Mathematically-speaking it should be easy. Each year offers 52 weekends, while the sum of FIA world championship motorsport events in Formula 1 (21), World Endurance Championship (nine), World Rally Championship (14) and World Touring Car Championship (12) amounts to 54 events. Therefore, in an ideal motorsport world, there should be but two clashes across these calendars.
It should be noted that the fifth world championship, the World Rallycross Championship has not been considered for the purposes of this column. While it is undeniably emerging and has many key ingredients, it is a relatively new player and has not yet gained a major audience.
True, a case could be made, and often is, that Christmas and (Gregorian) New Year should be exempt. But, on that basis, exemptions could be argued for all major holidays celebrated by whatever nations, creeds or religions.