Craig as you have stated it is unfortunate that the pre worlds are on the same weekend, but the fact is that the innaugural EC GP GP was held on the same weekend last year, was booked again for this year, dates were scheduled mid last year so as to get the details into various Blacktown city council centenary documents.
All this before the pre worlds were even thought of.
At the end of the day the hardcore racers will go to the pre worlds, as im sure it will be an awesome event, while there will be a lot more racers who did not qualify / have aspirations for worlds events. The bottom line is that more regular racers are likely to enter this event, unfortunately its a fact that a lot of people do not like competing against the cream of the crop.
Both events will be very well run, the competitors of each will have a ball, and im sure as both the electric and Nitro GP's gain in popularity they will become an integral part of the racing calendar, there are very few dedicated 3 day events of this type.