Latest news with #FIAWEC
NBC Sports
2 days ago
- Automotive
- NBC Sports
World Endurance Championship announces 2026 schedule
The FIA World Endurance Championship has announced its 2026 schedule, which will be made up of the same venues as in 2025. Capitalizing on the momentum of 750,000 fans that attended events in these eight rounds, there was little reason to alter the schedule, which will begin with Round 1 in Qatar, March 26 - 28, 2026. The 2026 calendar comprises five regions: Europe, North America, South America, Asia, and the Middle East. 'We are pleased to present our 2026 FIA WEC calendar, which reflects the series' success by building upon a winning formula and format,' said Frédéric Lequien, CEO, FIA World Endurance Championship in a news release. 'All eight events have established themselves as firm favourites amongst competitors and fans. Every circuit offers its own unique characteristics and challenges – and invariably brings out the best from our incredible drivers, cars and teams. We look forward to continuing to put on a thrilling show all around the world! The highlight of the schedule will continue to be the 24 Hours of Le Mans, June 10 - 14. Four six-hour races will be held at Imola (April 17 - 19), Spa-Francorchamps (May 7 - 9), Sao Paulo (July 10 - 12), and Mount Fuji, Japan (September 25 - 27). The Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, returns to the schedule on September 4 - 6 for the Lone Star Le Mans. WEC will conclude their season with an eight-hour race in Bahrain, November 5 - 7. 'After a period of expansion, including the addition of an eighth round in 2024, the FIA World Endurance Championship enters a phase of consolidation and stability with next season's calendar,' said Richard Mille, President, FIA Endurance Commission. 'The schedule continues to feature world-class circuits across key regions, striking the right balance between global exposure for manufacturers and the need to keep participation costs at a reasonable level. This stability lays a strong foundation for the continued success of the Hypercar class and supports the sustained growth of the world's premier endurance racing series.' 2026 WEC Schedule March 26 - 28: Qatar 1812 Kilometers (1,126 miles) April 17 - 19: 6 Hours of Imola May 7 - 9: 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps June 10 - 14: 24 Hours of Le Mans July 10 - 12: 6 Hours of Sao Paulo September 4 - 6: Lone Star Le Mans September 25 - 27: 6 Hours of Fuji November 5 - 7: 8 Hours of Bahrain
Web Release
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Web Release
FERRARI WINS THIRD CONSECUTIVE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS
For the third year running, Ferrari has triumphed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, securing the 93rd edition of the French endurance race with the number 83 499P driven by Prancing Horse's official driver Yifei Ye, alongside Phil Hanson and Robert Kubica, who crossed the line in the AF Corse team's Giallo Modena-liveried car. In the fourth round of the 2025 FIA WEC, the number 51 499P of Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi took third, ahead of the other official Ferrari – AF Corse car, number 50, driven by Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen. Thanks to the Italian manufacturer's extraordinary result, Ferrari will now keep the winners' trophy forever – a right granted to those who secure victory in three consecutive editions. After the wins in 2024 with Fuoco-Molina-Nielsen and the Centenary edition in 2023 with Pier Guidi-Calado-Giovinazzi, the Maranello manufacturer once again climbs to the top step of the podium with a car already etched in motorsport legend – the Ferrari 499P, which has won every race contested at the Circuit de La Sarthe since its competitive debut. The Maranello manufacturer now boasts 12 overall victories in the world's oldest and most prestigious endurance race between 1949 and 2025. Ferrari has now secured three consecutive outright victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time since the 1960s, when the Prancing Horse won six editions in a row between 1960 and 1965. The last of those, achieved with the Ferrari 250 LM, was also the final overall triumph in France before its return to the top class of endurance racing starting in 2023.
Daily Tribune
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Tribune
Final Lap, Familiar Ground: Bahrain to Close 2026 WEC Season
TDT | Manama Endurance racing's global calendar returns to Bahrain for the championship finale Bahrain to Host WEC Finale Again The 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) will once again reach its climax at the Bahrain International Circuit, as organisers confirmed the Bapco Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain will serve as the final round of the season. Scheduled for 5–7 November 2026, the event maintains Bahrain's well-established role as the championship decider, which is a tradition the WEC continues to uphold without change to its eight-race global calendar. This announcement, made on Friday, cements Bahrain's status as a cornerstone of the WEC's Middle Eastern presence. Bapco Energies 8 Hours As Round 8 of the 2026 season, the Bahrain race will determine champions in both the Hypercar and LMGT3 categories. The event is a grand finale as much as it is a technical challenge. Drivers face high ambient temperatures, abrasive tarmac, and one of the series' most demanding layouts, with frequent heavy braking zones and sustained stress on tyres and brakes. Fans around the world will be able to stream the event live or on demand via the official FIA WEC TV platform, providing global access to what is expected to be a decisive and dramatic closing chapter to the season. Calendar Built on Stability The 2026 WEC calendar mirrors the current format, featuring eight rounds across five continents. It opens with the Qatar 1812 Km on 28 March in Lusail and travels through Europe, North and South America, and Asia-Pacific before arriving in Bahrain in November. Here is the full schedule: - Qatar 1812Km — 28 March, Lusail, Qatar - 6 Hours of Imola — 19 April, Imola, Italy - 6 Hours of Spa — 9 May, Spa, Belgium - 24 Hours of Le Mans — 13–14 June, Le Mans, France - 6 Hours of São Paulo — 12 July, São Paulo, Brazil - 6 Hours of COTA — 6 September, Austin, USA - 6 Hours of Fuji — 27 September, Fuji, Japan - 8 Hours of Bahrain — 7 November, Sakhir, Bahrain This continuity reflects a broader strategic decision by the FIA and the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) to focus on refining existing events rather than expanding the calendar. Despite speculation about potential new venues, no additions (including a rumoured return for Silverstone) were made. Bahrain's Endurance Legacy Bahrain has been a consistent host of the WEC season finale in recent years, including in 2024, and its position is further reinforced by an extended hosting agreement running through 2027. The event continues to benefit from strong local support, international recognition, and investment from both public and private sectors. As WEC grows, with more than 750,000 fans attending across eight races in 2024, Bahrain's role becomes ever more central. Not only does it offer a geographically strategic location and premium facilities, but it also delivers reliability, experience, and a setting capable of matching the championship's prestige Sakhir Awaits The 2026 WEC season may offer familiar venues, but the racing will be anything but predictable. With Hypercars and LMGT3 machinery set to take centre stage under the Sakhir lights, the Bahrain finale remains a benchmark for how global motorsport ends its year: dramatic, competitive, and world-class.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Spa 6 Hours: AF Corse Ferrari triumphs again after flag-to-flag battle
Ferrari made it three out of three in this season's World Endurance Championship with victory for James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi and Alessandro Pier Guidi at the Spa 6 Hours. The trio took the win on Saturday by 4s from the sister 499P Le Mans Hypercar shared by Nicklas Nielsen, Miguel Molina and Antonio Fuoco, with the third-placed Alpine A424 LMDh driven by Frederic Makowiecki, Jules Gounon and Mick Schumacher a further second in arrears. Advertisement Ferrari might have dominated qualifying, the three 499P blocking out the top positions in Hyperpole, but the race in Belgium was a close-run affair in which it faced a stiff challenge from Alpine, BMW and Peugeot. The second-placed Ferrari appeared to be in the ascendency after the second of two safety cars that ended with an hour and a 51 minutes remaining. Race winner GT3LM, #21 Vista AF Corse Ferrari 296 LMGT3: Francois Heriau, Simon Mann, Alessio Rovera, Race winner #51 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi Race winner GT3LM, #21 Vista AF Corse Ferrari 296 LMGT3: Francois Heriau, Simon Mann, Alessio Rovera, Race winner #51 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi FIAWEC - DPPI FIAWEC - DPPI But when the two factory AF Corse Ferraris pitted a lap apart with just over an hour to go Pier Guidi in #51 was able to overturn a 6s deficit to the #50 which Nielsen took over from Fuoco. Advertisement Both Ferraris fell behind the two WRT BMW M Hybrid LMDhs, but Pier Guidi was able to quickly clear them, while Nielsen lost time, also falling behind the pair of Jota Cadillac V-Series.R LMDhs. The strategies of the two Ferraris diverged over the final hour, Pier Guidi pushed in the knowledge that he would have to make a late splash, while Nielsen went into fuel save mode. Pier Guidi stopped with 12 minutes to go, emerging with an 11s advantage over his team-mate. #35 Alpine Endurance Team Alpine A424: Paul-Loup Chatin, Ferdinand Habsburg, Charles Milesi #35 Alpine Endurance Team Alpine A424: Paul-Loup Chatin, Ferdinand Habsburg, Charles Milesi FIAWEC - DPPI FIAWEC - DPPI Nielsen just had the measure of Schumacher in the closing stages as he eked out his energy allocation to the end. It was a case of what might have been for the #36 Alpine. Advertisement A slow puncture in the penultimate hour blunted the French manufacturer's challenge, though it effectively allowed Schumacher to bring forward his splash for fuel. BMW led the race with the #20 entry shared by René Rast and Robin Frijns, losing a clear shot at the podium with a brake problem that precipitated its retirement in the final hour. The Peugeot 9X8 2024 LMH that was best placed to gain a another podium for the marque also retired, after Malthe Jakobsen in the #94 shared with Loic Duval and Stoffel Vandoorne clashed with Frijns at Les Combes. Peugeot had split its fuel strategies earlier in the race, which gave Jean-Eric Vergne, driver of the #93 car the lead, but when the safety car came out shortly after he stopped the tactical gamble was undone. #38 Cadillac Hertz Team Jota Cadillac V-Series.R: Earl Bamber, Sebastien Bourdais, Jenson Button #38 Cadillac Hertz Team Jota Cadillac V-Series.R: Earl Bamber, Sebastien Bourdais, Jenson Button Eric Le Galliot Eric Le Galliot Advertisement Toyota took fourth with the GR010 HYBRID LMH shared by Brendon Hartley, Ryo Hirakawa and Sébastien Buemi, despite its two cars qualifying ahead of only the Aston Martin Valkyries LMHs. The Jota Cadillacs ended up fifth and sixth, the #12 car shared by Alex Lynn, Norman Nato finishing nine seconds up on #38 driven by Jenson Button, Earl Bamber and Sebastien Bourdais. The second Toyota driven by Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries claimed seventh ahead of the second Alpine shared by Ferdinand Habsburg, Charles Milesi and Paul-Loup Chatin. Porsche salvaged a best result of ninth with the #6 factory Penske 963 LMDh shared by Laurens Vanthoor, Kevin Estre and Pascal Wehrlein. Advertisement BMW rounded out the top 10 with the #15 M Hybrid driven by Kevin Magnussen and Raffaele Marciello. #21 Vista AF Corse Ferrari 296 LMGT3: Francois Heriau, Simon Mann, Alessio Rovera #21 Vista AF Corse Ferrari 296 LMGT3: Francois Heriau, Simon Mann, Alessio Rovera Andreas Beil Andreas Beil LMGT3 honours went to the AF Corse-run Ferrari 296 GT3 shared by Francois Heriau, Simon Mann and Alessio Rovera, despite an early race penalty. Rovera finished 40s up on the Proton Competition Ford Mustang GT3 of Dennis Olsen, Giammarco Levorato and Stefano Gattuso. To read more articles visit our website.
Muscat Daily
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Muscat Daily
Oman's Al Harthy looks to continue his podium momentum at Spa-Francorchamps
Muscat – Spa-Francorchamps, venue for some of Ahmad al Harthy's most spectacular achievements in motor racing, welcomes the FIA World Endurance Championship for round three of the season on Saturday, when the Omani aims to continue his and Team WRT's podium momentum. Fresh from a near-victory at Imola in Italy less than three weeks ago, where team-mate Kelvin van der Linde took the chequered flag a mere 0.3 seconds shy of the race win, the duo and fellow Team WRT racer Valentino Rossi are focused on trying to go one better at Spa. 'We're all looking forward to continuing the FIA WEC season at Spa this weekend,' said Al Harthy. Imola was an amazing event and really did kick-start our championship. Everyone at Team WRT did an incredible job, Vale and Kelvin were super quick as always and I was so happy with my performance in both qualifying and the race. 'What can you say about Spa that hasn't already been said? It's an incredible track, one of the best in the world, and we have enjoyed so much success there over the years. I've always loved racing at Spa, the track is an amazing challenge and it's one of those places were I have always seemed to go well. After being so close to the win at Imola, we're aiming to fight just as hard again this weekend.' Imola very much marked the true start of the 2025 season for the No.46 BMW M4 LMT3 entry with a spectacular performance – Al Harthy fastest by some margin in qualifying and Rossi then sealing pole position in Hyperpole. In the fight for victory throughout, an unfortunate penalty threatened to derail the squad's podium challenge but an outstanding final stint from van der Linde brought the BMW back through the order superbly to second place, a fraction from the win. Rocketing up the championship standings into the LMGT3 top six as a result, only eight points shy of the top three, the goal in Belgium is to continue the high level of performance in the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps to solidify their 2025 championship challenge. Not only that, there is a clear desire for some redemption too after an unfortunate retirement from last year's encounter at Spa. Contact from one of the Hypercar class Porsches midway through hour two ended the BMW's involvement while in the battle for the LMGT3 podium. Historically, of course, OQ Group, Sohar International, Omantel, Oman LNG, BMW Oman, Oman Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and Experience Oman supported racer Al Harthy has a strong affinity with Spa-Francorchamps having enjoyed tremendous success there. Al Harthy's career highlight at the track to date was Pro-Am class victory in the Total 24 Hours of Spa in 2019 in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup, then known as the Blancpain Endurance Cup. All achieved from a pitlane start!
