diff --git a/fastf1/core.py b/fastf1/core.py
index 53020a5df..a61b58d66 100644
--- a/fastf1/core.py
+++ b/fastf1/core.py
@@ -1027,10 +1027,17 @@ def __init__(self, event, session_name, f1_api_support=False):
         telemetry data are available."""
         self.date = self.event.get_session_date(session_name, utc=True)
         """pandas.Datetime: Date at which this session took place."""
+
+        try:
+            _api_date = self.event.get_session_date(session_name, utc=False)
+        except ValueError:
+            # not all backends provide local timestamps, use UTC then which
+            # works in almost all cases
+            _api_date = self.date
         self.api_path = api.make_path(
             self.event['EventName'],
             self.event['EventDate'].strftime('%Y-%m-%d'),
-            self.name, self.date.strftime('%Y-%m-%d')
+            self.name, _api_date.strftime('%Y-%m-%d')
         )
         """str: API base path for this session"""