FIA World Endurance Championship
Encyclopedia
The FIA World Endurance Championship is a proposed auto racing
world championship
organised by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest
(ACO) and sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
(FIA). The series usurps the ACO's former Intercontinental Le Mans Cup which began in 2010
, and is the first endurance series of world championship status since the demise of the World Sportscar Championship
at the end of 1992
. The World Endurance Championship name was previously used by the FIA from 1981 to 1985
.
The series will feature multiple classes of cars competing in endurance races, with sports prototype
s competing in the Le Mans Prototype
categories, and production-based grand tourer
s competing in the GT Endurance categories. World champion titles will be awarded to the top scoring manufacturers and drivers over the season, while other cups and trophies will be awarded for drivers and private teams
.
, with all races being at least six hours in duration. The calendar will include two races each in Europe, North America, and Asia, with a possible future expansion to eight or nine races. The four current categories utilized in ACO events will continue to be used in the World Endurance Championship through 2013: LMP1 and LMP2 prototypes and the GTE category, divided into GTE Pro for teams with professional driver line-ups, and GTE Am for teams featuring a mixture of amateur drivers.
Six titles will be awarded each season based on total point tally, with two being deemed world championships: Manufacturers' World Endurance Champion and Drivers' World Champion. The GTE Pro class champion will be awarded a World Cup, while the leaders in LMP2 and GTE Am will be awarded a Trophy. The final Trophy will be awarded to the best privateer
team amongst all four classes. The points system will be similar to that that used in the FIA's other world championships, awarding points to the top ten finishers on a sliding point margin scale from first to tenth. Cars finishing the race but classified eleventh or further will be awarded a half point. Double points will be awarded for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
world championship
World championship
A world championship is the top achievement for any sport or contest. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the best nation, team, individual in the world in a particular field. Certain sports do not have a world championship, instead...
organised by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest
Automobile Club de l'Ouest
The Automobile Club de l'Ouest , sometimes abbreviated to ACO, is the largest automotive group in France. It was founded in 1906 by car building and racing enthusiasts, and is most famous for being the organising entity behind the annual Le Mans 24 Hours race...
(ACO) and sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is a non-profit association established as the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus on 20 June 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users...
(FIA). The series usurps the ACO's former Intercontinental Le Mans Cup which began in 2010
2010 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup
The 2010 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup was the inaugural running of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest's Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, an international auto racing championship for manufacturers and teams. The Cup featured endurance races from the American Le Mans Series, Le Mans Series, and Asian Le...
, and is the first endurance series of world championship status since the demise of the World Sportscar Championship
World Sportscar Championship
The World Sportscar Championship was the world series run for sports car racing by the FIA from 1953 to 1992.The championship evolved from a small collection of the most important sportscar, endurance and road racing events in Europe and North America with dozens of gentleman drivers at the grid,...
at the end of 1992
1992 World Sportscar Championship season
The 1992 Sportscar World Championship season was the 40th and final FIA World Sportscar Championship season. It was a series of Group C formula sportscars separated into two classes, termed C1 and FIA Cup. It ran from April 26, 1992 to October 18, 1992, comprising 6 races.-Pre-Season:From the...
. The World Endurance Championship name was previously used by the FIA from 1981 to 1985
World Sportscar Championship
The World Sportscar Championship was the world series run for sports car racing by the FIA from 1953 to 1992.The championship evolved from a small collection of the most important sportscar, endurance and road racing events in Europe and North America with dozens of gentleman drivers at the grid,...
.
The series will feature multiple classes of cars competing in endurance races, with sports prototype
Sports prototype
A sports prototype, also referred to as simply a prototype, is a form of racing car that is used as a top category in sports car racing. These purpose-built racing cars differ from street-legal and production-based racing cars that also compete in sports car racing.Prototype racing cars have...
s competing in the Le Mans Prototype
Le Mans Prototype
A Le Mans Prototype is a type of sports prototype race car most notably used in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, American Le Mans Series and Le Mans Series...
categories, and production-based grand tourer
Grand tourer
A grand tourer is a high-performance luxury automobile designed for long-distance driving. The most common format is a two-door coupé with either a two-seat or a 2+2 arrangement....
s competing in the GT Endurance categories. World champion titles will be awarded to the top scoring manufacturers and drivers over the season, while other cups and trophies will be awarded for drivers and private teams
Privateer (motorsport)
In motor sport, a privateer is usually an entrant into a racing event that is not directly supported by an automobile manufacturer. Privateers teams are often found competing in rally and circuit racing events, and often include competitors who build and maintain their own vehicles...
.
Format
The World Endurance Championship will follow much of the format of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup and feature seven endurance races across the world, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
, with all races being at least six hours in duration. The calendar will include two races each in Europe, North America, and Asia, with a possible future expansion to eight or nine races. The four current categories utilized in ACO events will continue to be used in the World Endurance Championship through 2013: LMP1 and LMP2 prototypes and the GTE category, divided into GTE Pro for teams with professional driver line-ups, and GTE Am for teams featuring a mixture of amateur drivers.
Six titles will be awarded each season based on total point tally, with two being deemed world championships: Manufacturers' World Endurance Champion and Drivers' World Champion. The GTE Pro class champion will be awarded a World Cup, while the leaders in LMP2 and GTE Am will be awarded a Trophy. The final Trophy will be awarded to the best privateer
Privateer (motorsport)
In motor sport, a privateer is usually an entrant into a racing event that is not directly supported by an automobile manufacturer. Privateers teams are often found competing in rally and circuit racing events, and often include competitors who build and maintain their own vehicles...
team amongst all four classes. The points system will be similar to that that used in the FIA's other world championships, awarding points to the top ten finishers on a sliding point margin scale from first to tenth. Cars finishing the race but classified eleventh or further will be awarded a half point. Double points will be awarded for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
See also
- American Le Mans SeriesAmerican Le Mans SeriesThe American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams compete in one of five classes: LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC...
- Le Mans SeriesLe Mans SeriesThe Le Mans Series is a European sports car racing endurance series based around the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and run by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest . The series was originally named the Le Mans Endurance Series, but changed its name prior to the 2006 season...
- FIA GT1 World ChampionshipFIA GT1 World ChampionshipThe FIA GT1 World Championship is a world championship sports car racing series developed by the SRO Group and regulated by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . It features multiple grand tourer race cars based on production road cars and conforming with the GT1 regulations competing in...
- World Sportscar ChampionshipWorld Sportscar ChampionshipThe World Sportscar Championship was the world series run for sports car racing by the FIA from 1953 to 1992.The championship evolved from a small collection of the most important sportscar, endurance and road racing events in Europe and North America with dozens of gentleman drivers at the grid,...
- Intercontinental Le Mans Cup