2025 FIA World Endurance Championship: A Promising Season of Growth and Excitement

The 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) is poised to be another thrilling chapter in the golden age of endurance racing, with significant developments in participating brands, calendar, regulations, and more.

Booming Participation and New Entries

The championship continues to attract top automotive brands. In the Hypercar class, Aston Martin is stepping up with a Hypercar program, joining existing manufacturers. Mercedes-AMG is set to make its debut in the LMGT3 class, which already boasts a diverse range of manufacturers including Aston Martin, BMW, Corvette, Ferrari, Ford, Lexus, McLaren, and Porsche. In total, 13 constructors will line up across the two classes, with a 36-strong grid.

Calendar: A Global Journey

The 2025 season features an unchanged eight-round calendar spanning four continents, offering a mix of iconic and popular circuits:

• Qatar 1812km (February 21-22 & 28) at Lusail International Circuit
• 6 Hours of Imola (April 20) in Italy
• TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (May 10) in Belgium
• 24 Hours of Le Mans (June 14-15) in France, the focal point of the season
• Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo (July 13) in Brazil
• Lone Star Le Mans at Circuit of The Americas (September 7) in the USA
• 6 Hours of Fuji (September 28) in Japan, marking the series' 100th race
• BAPCO Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain (November 8) in the Middle East

Key Classes and Their Details

• Hypercar Class: Entering its fifth year, it's the pinnacle of endurance racing. Cars are built to either LMH (Le Mans Hypercar) or LMDh (Le Mans Daytona h) regulations. They have a maximum power output of 520kW, a minimum weight of 1,030kg, and can use hybrid or non-hybrid power units with rear or four-wheel-drive. Michelin is the official tire supplier until 2029.
• LMGT3 Class: In its second year, it features GT3-spec cars with private teams and Pro-Am driver line-ups. The 18-car grid includes nine brands. Goodyear is the exclusive tire supplier, introducing a new 'Compound C' slick tire for 2025, which offers more longevity than previous compounds.

Regulations and Procedures

• Qualifying: A two-session format with an initial 12-minute qualifying, followed by a 10-minute 'Hyperpole' shootout for the fastest ten competitors, determining the top ten positions and awarding one championship point for pole position in each category.
• Safety Car Procedure: A Virtual Safety Car (VSC) period can be declared, followed by a Safety Car procedure. During VSC, cars slow to 80km/h in a single line, maintaining distances, with pit-lane access open.

Values and Sustainability

The WEC emphasizes accessibility, innovation, team spirit, and sustainability. It's a pioneer in using 100% renewable biofuel (Excellium Racing 100), reducing CO₂ emissions by at least 65%. It also encourages the development of hybrid, hydrogen, and zero-emission technologies, serving as a living laboratory for automotive advances.

Growing Popularity

The 2024 season saw record attendance, with 755,000 spectators on-site and a new record at Spa. Social media presence is also expanding, with 6.8 million+ followers, 47 million+ engagement, and 299 million+ video views, showing a significant increase from 2023.

With all these exciting elements, the 2025 FIA WEC is set to deliver a season of intense competition, technological innovation, and global appeal.