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Di Grassi: Formula E getting too big for drivers to twin with WEC
Lucas di Grassi believes drivers in future will have to choose between racing in Formula E or the FIA World Endurance Championship full-time, as it will become increasingly difficult to compete in both series.
Jamie Klein
Edited: Dec 22, 2016, 12:06 PM
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Di Grassi has spent the last two seasons doing both championships in parallel as an Audi factory driver, but will shift his main focus towards the all-electric series following the German marque’s withdrawal from endurance racing.
The Brazilian therefore no longer will be forced to choose between racing at the Nurburgring WEC round or the New York Formula E double-header next July, but several of his rivals – including Formula E points leader Sebastien Buemi – will have to, barring any last-minute date changes.
Speaking about the clash, di Grassi believes that the days of drivers racing in both championships full-time are numbered, because of the increasing level of commitment that Formula E is demanding.
He told Motorsport.com: “Everybody wants to have a full line-up [for Formula E], and some teams will have a big problem – especially because it’s not only one race, it’s two races.
“If some guys miss Formula E for WEC, that’s their choice. An LMP1 car can run with two drivers in a six-hour race. We did it this year at the Nurburgring when Benoit [Treluyer] got hurt.
“I think it depends on how the championships go. If you have no chance of a title in one series but you do in the other, the decision should be quite easy.
“But I don’t know if drivers’ contracts mean they have to prioritise one over the other. For guys who drive for two different manufacturers, it’s much harder.
“In future, I think they’ll have to choose one championship or the other. Formula E is becoming more and more serious, requiring a lot of effort and resources – and that includes drivers.”
'Special races' alongside Formula E
While his main focus will be on Formula E in 2017, di Grassi says he wants to race in certain other key sportscar events throughout the season, including the Le Mans 24 Hours.
“I have a proposal to do the Daytona 24 Hours, and I would like to do maybe the Nurburgring 24 Hours, and the Macau GT World Cup,” he revealed.
“I don’t want to do another [full] championship in parallel, but I would love to do some other special races during the year. So this is what I will probably end up doing in future.
“Then if I can come back to Le Mans with a chance to win overall, I will definitely do it. There have been already some talks in the paddock if some teams do a third car, they might invite me.”
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