2017 Formula 1 calendar key to avoiding FE and WEC date clash

The inaugural New York ePrix and WEC Nurburgring round are currently scheduled for the July 15-16 weekend, despite a gentleman's agreement between the two series not to overlap.

It has occurred because WEC boss Gerard Neveu has an agreement with his teams not to have a race within four weeks of the Le Mans 24 Hours, while the Nurburgring needed a two-week gap leading up to its proposed F1 German Grand Prix date on July 30.

But the 2017 F1 calendar issued by the FIA last month lists Hockenheim as hosting the German GP for a second year in a row, raising hopes the clash can be avoided.

FE CEO Alejandro Agag told Autosport: "Now there is no reason any more.

"The main obstacle has been removed for WEC to be able to change back to the original date.

"The problem is the F1 calendar tends to change again.

"Until they say the calendar is solid [the WEC] won't want to make a move.

"I contacted WEC after I saw the news and they told me they were going to look into it because they were as surprised as me.

"Everyone has the best intentions. Hopefully we can make it work."

The remainder of the 2016/17 FE calendar is "not prone to change" according to Agag.

London's outside chance of a season-three reprieve disappeared when the FIA's World Motor Sport Council meeting last month announced a revised calendar with two TBA slots removed.

JAPANESE RACE EYED AS PART OF ASIAN EXPANSION

Ahead of last weekend's inaugural race in Hong Kong, Agag had been in Japan to negotiate a possible Tokyo or Yokohama ePrix for the 2018/19 season.

"We just came back from there, it's one of our priorities," he said.

"It's not that easy, particularly because the police is very, very demanding in terms of road closures, speed on the roads, etc.

"But there are chances. We had a particularly good meeting with one city, I cannot say which one, but we have reasonable hopes.

"For season four it will be difficult but probably for season five."

Even though a Japanese round is unlikely before 2018, Agag claimed there would be "at least one more race in Asia" next season.

It is not known whether Beijing, which hosted the first FE two curtain-raisers but was dropped for the current campaign, could return.

Agag also said an Australian event is "still on the cards".