FIA World Endurance Championship CEO Gerard Neveu has defended the𒀰 decision to🎉 change the date for October's 6 Hours of Fuji race to ensure Formula 1 star Fernando Alonso can enter despite facing backlash from a number of sports car drivers.

Two-time F1 world champion Alonso signed a deal to race for🔜 Toyota in the WEC this year as part of his bid to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, planning a wider campaign around his McLaren commitments.

Alonso had been 🐓due to miss the race at Fuji Speedway due to a clash with the United States Grand Prix on October 21, only for WEC officials to reveal last week that the Fuji date had been🧸 brought forward one week to October 14, ensuring he can take part.

However, the move has now created a clash with the IMSA season finale, Petit Le Mans, leaving a number of sports🦹 car drivers facing a dilemma between which race to enter, as well the planned Super GT round at Autopolis.

Ford's Olivier Pla called out WEC for a "lack o�🅰�f consideration", while Alonso's former F1 teammate, Jenson Button, said it was a "shame" the decision would hurt the fanbases of all series.

"We work always to protect the interests of the championship. This is 🌳first and foremost what we took into consideration,” .

“How could we have someone like Fernando Alonso in our paddock, racing for Toyota, and say we are going to Jap❀an without him in their car? 

“For Japanese fans, to respect what Toyota is doing, and for the championship as well - Alonso isꦍ racing for a world championship and to win♕ that he can’t miss a race. 

“It was logi𓂃cal&nbsꦜp;and if you ask the Japanese fans, they are very happy.”

Neveu added he hoped to work with IMSA of🎃ficials to try𓃲 and shift the date for Petit Le Mans, but such a move has been ruled out by the North American sports car series.