Inaugural Baku GP facing yet another clash

Race organisers have dismissed suggestions another clash could hurt next year’s inaugural race in Azerbaijan.

The country, situated between Russia and Iran, is positioning itself as a European country, having recently hosted the European Games and Eurovision.

Now, although the race will take place in the middle of the capital Baku, Azerbaijan’s first grand prix next year will be called the European grand prix.

But the 2016 race was then handed a mid-June date, clashing with the 2016 edition of the famous and increasingly popular Le Mans 24 hours.

Not only that, Baku’s race next year will also clash with the popular quadrennial European football championship, UEFA 2016.

"There is the view that F1 fans for the most part are not big football fans," Baku race promoter Arif Rahimov told the Russian news agency Izvestia.

"If that’s the case, then I think they will be able to escape from football for a couple of hours to watch formula one. For us, I don’t think it’s a big problem," he added.