Scheduling clash unresolved after calendar launch
23/1/2001 17:19 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) - The dispute between Tony Cochrane and Don Panoz over a December clash of dates is set to continue, with the Confederation of Australian Motorsport (CAMS) tentatively scheduling both events on the same weekend.
The official CAMS 2001 calendar, released late yesterday, did little to denounce the dispute that has Sportscar entrepreneur Don Panoz and V8 Supercar Chairman Tony Cochrane claiming exclusive ownership of the December 2 weekend.
In announcing their extensive Australian motorsport calendar for 2001, CAMS CEO Peter Hansen said a resolution was still being sought.
“While dates for most international and national events are unlikely to change, they are subject to change as it is possible that some other activities could alter over the course of the year. For example, the date clash with the Le Mans event in Adelaide and the V8 Supercar round at Sandown is being worked on,” Hansen explained.
The despite arose after V8 governing body AVESCO scheduled their season-ending Sandown Raceway meeting on the same weekend as the Don Panoz-convened Adelaide Le Mans race.
Both Cochrane and Panoz are refusing to budge; claiming factors permit rescheduling their respective events. The debate has become as much a personal battle between the two powerbrokers as it is a scheduling one.
It is unclear when a solution will be found, if it all, to the clash, although it has been suggested world governing body the FIA could intervene.
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