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Originally Posted by joeb
Wasn't the stated problem for the WEC about Sebring the logistics of hosting both series back to back? So this is the same problem but at a different track?
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As often the ACO speaks with a 'double tongue':
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“The top priority is to come to the U.S.,” Fillon said.
“I love Sebring – it’s an iconic race. But it’s impossible to continue to have a race on Friday and a race on Saturday.
“It’s difficult for the sponsors and manufacturers to have two races [on one weekend]. We have to find another solution. What is the solution, I don’t know.
“The idea is to continue to have a common event with IMSA. But we are thinking about how we can do that.”
Fillon went on to say that the Sebring format needs a “rethink” but acknowledged that it is “too early” to divulge how that might pan out.
“There is [a] conflict between our partners and sponsors. The level of the manufacturers is higher, so we have to rethink how this double event can be.”
When asked by Sportscar365 if the WEC could shift its North American round to another existing IMSA event, Fillon responded: “What I can say today is that our partnership will continue and we want to continue to have some common events. But it’s too early to answer.”
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In other words: Yes, we have a problem with running on Friday at Sebring.* No, we're not looking for a standalone event. Answer: team up with IMSA at a lesser established event where they (IMSA) run on Saturday and we (WEC) can race as headliner on Sunday. Sebring won't work as it's an iconic event. Indy is the 'perfect' solution considering it's a new event and the track fulfills WEC's desire to run on modern, characterless tracks. It's a similar strategy tried with CotA previously with the difference that Indy is labelled (and very much regarded) as the 'Racing Capital of the World'.
* Can anyone explain what's so difficult for the sponsors and manufacturers to have two races on one weekend? Surely the generated exposure by Super Sebring is extremely hard to match by whatever other WEC event in the US - teamed with IMSA or not.