Threats of cancellation at the 6 Hours of São Paulo

Friday November 8, during the briefing dedicated to team managers, Gérard Neveu announced to the teams that threats of cancellation were looming over the 6 Hours of São Paulo (February 2, 2020), back on the calendar after three seasons of absence.

“There are a lot of lights on in the wrong color, told us the director of WEC. We asked for guarantees three and a half months ago which we are still waiting for and if we do not have them within a relatively short period of time, we will not go.

I therefore suggested to the teams to put their logistics for São Paulo on standby and I myself left here for around ten days more than 26 containers traveling by boat which were to leave directly there without passing through Bahrain. It is very likely that Brazil will give its guarantees in the next two weeks. If so, everything will work normally. If not, we will need to find an alternative. »

What about the deadline? “After December 1, we will enter a critical zone, continued the former director of Paul-Ricard. It goes without saying that you have to prepare a plan B. An exceptional situation, an exceptional destination.

Maybe this is an opportunity to go to a place we might return to in the future. (Kyalami? Editor’s note). But it won't be in Europe or Asia and the more we head towards an experienced circuit, the better. » Abu Dhabi, which would allow you to stay in the Persian Gulf? The Circuit of the Americas, in Austin (Texas), which has already received the WEC, would not be a meaningless solution either since the next round will be organized in Sebring, Florida.

“But I insist, our wish is indeed to go to Brazil”, concludes Gérard Neveu. The disagreement would be financial, and the F1 would also have experienced the same type of inconvenience with the local developer. Is this linked to the fact that President Jair Bolsonaro supports the F1 project in Rio de Janeiro? It will be interesting to see what happens this weekend at the Grand Prix.