WEC: 2025 schedule and key future regulatory changes revealed at Le Mans
Following ratification by the FIA World Motor Sport Council this week, the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship calendar as well as several future regulatory changes have been outlined at the ACO Press Conference preceding the 92nd running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
EIGHT ROUNDS MAINTAINED FOR 2025 AS IMOLA SECURES MULTI-YEAR EXTENSION
As the FIA World Endurance Championship continues to go from strength to strength, the 2025 season will see the championship maintain the same eight events held across four continents that formed this year’s schedule. The FIA WEC promoter has also signed a contract with Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari that will keep the Italian circuit on the calendar until 2028.
Mohammed ben Sulayem, FIA President, said: “Over the last couple of years the FIA World Endurance Championship has been enjoying an incredible period of growth in terms of both sporting level as well as popularity. With this came the calendar expansion and, last year, the series settled for an eight-round schedule that provides it with both geographical diversity as well a line-up of world-class racing venues to stage the events. It is therefore great news to have the same schedule confirmed for 2025, which for the FIA WEC means a stable base on which it can grow even further.”
Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), said: “The 2025 FIA WEC calendar is a continuity of 2024, with eight rounds scheduled on some of the world’s most famous circuits. This season is about stability and exposure in key geographical areas. 2023 was exceptional, 2024 outstanding. In 2025, we shall reach new heights, notably with Aston Martin joining Hypercar. See you next year for another amazing episode in motor sport history.”
Richard Mille, FIA Endurance Commission President, said: “The 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship calendar can be best summarised by the popular saying – ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. The eight rounds that we know from this year offer a great mixture of well-established circuits and give the series presence in both the Americas, Asia, Europe and in the Middle East, providing the perfect stage for the events of the golden era of endurance racing to unfold. At the same time, being in so many corners of the globe is great for the series, for the fans and for the manufacturers involved, giving them the chance to showcase their dream cars at so many markets.”
Frédéric Lequien, FIA World Endurance Championship CEO, said: “The 2025 FIA WEC calendar is about consolidation and creating a schedule that works for both our teams and fans. The FIA WEC is growing at an extraordinary rate but we must remain humble and by maintaining eight rounds, we are listening to our teams, stakeholders and partners by also keeping budget in mind. It is important for the FIA WEC to reach as wide an audience as possible and with eight races across five different regions, we will continue to achieve this. We are delighted that Imola has committed to the FIA WEC until at least 2028 – the circuit and city Mayor Marco Panieri have been a tremendous support and this year’s inaugural FIA WEC race there was a huge success, which we look forward to emulating in 2025 and beyond.”
BIGGER GRIDS AND NO SINGLE-CAR MANUFACTURER ENTRIES IN HYPERCAR
New grid requirements have been validated for the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship season. In order to enhance sporting fairness and optimise level playing field each manufacturer will have to enter a minimum of two cars in the Hypercar class. Two-car entries will be mandatory to score points in the FIA Hypercar World Endurance Manufacturers’ Championship, while any additional cars from a given manufacturer will take part in the FIA World Cup for Hypercar Teams. As a result, but also to accommodate the arrival of new manufacturers, the maximum grid size is increased to 40 cars, applicable to all FIA WEC races except for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which will continue to host bigger girds.
HYPERCAR HOMOLOGATION CYCLE EXTENDED
Ensuring stability of technical regulations amid new manufacturers joining the competition each year, the current homologation cycle for the Hypercar class cars has been extended until the end of 2029, with two extra development jokers, applicable for the 2028 and 2029 seasons, added.
ARRIVAL OF NEXT GEN LMP2 POSTPONED
Taking into consideration the ongoing popularity of the current LMP2 package, it was decided to postpone the introduction of the next generation of the LMP2 class car to 2028 (instead of the originally planned 2026), with new chassis and engine yet to be selected. The current generation of the LMP2 car was introduced in 2017. Due to the high volume of entries in the FIA World Endurance Championship’s Hypercar class, the LMP2 class was suspended from the series in 2024, however, the cars maintained their FIA homologation. They also continue to take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans as well as in European Le Mans Series, Asian Le Mans Series and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.