The FIA have warned that motorsport series across the globe must aim to work together to avoid competitive ‘Turf Wars’ once racing resumes again.
The development comes after Formula 1 owners Liberty Media have outlined their intentions to get the 2020 World Championship underway in early July.
Meanwhile, both MotoGP and DTM have also confirmed that plans are afoot to begin their season in the same month.
With the global Covid-19 pandemic slowly subsiding around the world, and motorsport categories are beginning to set dates for revised calendars of their own, there will be a rush to book up race weekends.
Now, FIA deputy president Graham Stoker has said that, if mismanaged, this could lead to disputes among series organisers over who gets to race where.
“It will be an enormously competitive and potentially very crowded environment, and in one way that’s what we’ve got to hope for,” Stoker told FIA’s AUTO magazine.
“We want to see the return of the enormously vibrant and diverse motorsport environment we are used to. However, it will need very careful management.
“When we look at things such as the International Sporting Code and international sporting calendar, the approach has to be flexible. It’s crucial that we prioritise the staging of events. What would be counter-productive would be to get involved in turf wars.
“Let’s not get involved in disputes about who has got which slot and what prior agreements might specify. That approach will not work.”
Stoker then went on to explain that it will therefore be crucial for different categories to work together.
“The main priority is getting motorsport going again and if that means some ‘super weekends’ with multiple events happening, in co-operation and with flexibility, well, why not?
“Motorsport has got to pull together, and we’ve got to have flexibility in terms of events and venues and thinking outside the box in order to get things going again in a spectacular way that will obviously attract public interest.
“We should also demonstrate that motor sport remains relevant and a positive influence, through its messaging and actions.”
