Historic Deal Positions FIA World Endurance Championship for Report Decade of Development because the Sport Enters its Golden Age
The Fédération Internationale de l’Vehicle (FIA), the worldwide governing physique for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, and the Vehicle Membership de l’Ouest (ACO), the founder and organiser of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, have at present introduced a serious deal for the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC), securing one other decade of development.
The landmark settlement, which comes throughout a interval of unprecedented development for the championship, will guarantee a standard ambition to increase the partnership and drive its business success. It would run from the top of 2027, when the present settlement expires, to the top of 2037.
Below the prolonged partnership settlement, all regulatory processes shall be overseen by FIA Working Teams, the FIA Endurance Fee, and would require the ultimate approval of the FIA World Motor Sport Council. The homologation course of has additionally been streamlined, with the FIA and ACO overseeing the homologation of all automobiles competing within the Hypercar class.
The renewed partnership can even ship considerably elevated branding for the FIA. This contains enhanced branding prominently displayed throughout key areas together with parc fermé, the rostrum and the Security Automobiles, in addition to throughout broadcast protection.
With an increasing fanbase, a wider pool of opponents, and a world calendar of iconic occasions, the championship is stronger than ever. Since its inception in 2012, it has set the worldwide normal for long-distance circuit racing. Following the introduction of the Hypercar laws in 2021, curiosity within the championship from motor sport followers and from the automotive world has surged.
FIA WEC’s trackside viewers has grown 8% thus far in 2026, with hundreds of thousands of followers following the championship globally. The fanbase for the championship can also be evolving. This 12 months, 44% of attendees are aged 34 or youthful, whereas 40% are attending an FIA WEC occasion for the primary time. The championship has secured the long-term loyalty of its present fanbase, whereas constructing the following technology of endurance racing followers.
Eight of the world’s main auto-manufacturers at present compete in Hypercar, the highest class of FIA WEC. Following the addition of the LMGT3 class in 2024, the championship now counts no fewer than 14 marques in whole on the beginning grid. Two extra giants of the automotive trade – Ford and McLaren – are set to affix the Hypercar ranks in 2027.
For over 100 years, endurance racing has served as a confirmed testbed for applied sciences that switch from observe to street. This renewed settlement creates a strong framework for advancing hydrogen powertrains in competitors, offering a transparent pathway towards extra sustainable transport and mobility.
It would additionally ship a extra unified technical framework that defines top-level endurance racing Hypercars competing each within the FIA WEC and IMSA in North America, which shall be launched from 2030. The brand new framework will present better cost-efficiency for producers to compete in endurance racing championships and occasions globally, boosting potential participation and growing the spectacle for motor sport followers.
With curiosity in FIA WEC at ranges by no means seen earlier than, the championship is positioned for continued development and success over the approaching decade. This new deal presents the strong basis wanted to safe its future, marking a milestone second within the historical past of FIA WEC.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, stated: “This isn’t merely an settlement, it’s a important step ahead for racing that may safe the way forward for the FIA World Endurance Championship for years to come back.
“It is a deal constructed for the longer term, a deal of the century, one which strengthens the collaboration between the FIA and ACO, a relationship that dates again over 120 years, and units the championship up for a decade of file development that may ship actual advantages to followers, drivers, groups and producers.
“It has been an honour to play an element within the collaboration that has helped usher on this golden age of endurance racing. I look ahead to persevering with our work alongside President Pierre Fillon and his group as we construct on this momentum and form a fair stronger future.”
Pierre Fillon, President of the Vehicle Membership de l’Ouest, stated: “We’re delighted to see the settlement between the FIA and the ACO prolonged, reinforcing the robust and long-standing relationship that has been on the coronary heart of the FIA World Endurance Championship since its creation in 2012. This partnership has been constructed on belief, shared ambition, and a standard dedication to the event of endurance racing.
“Collectively, the FIA and the ACO have created a strong basis for the continued success and worldwide development of the championship, and we look ahead to writing the following chapter of this exceptional collaboration. Lastly, I wish to thank FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem for the nice relationship we’ve got constructed.”
Alberto Villarreal, Common Supervisor on the FIA, stated: “The FIA World Endurance Championship is stronger and extra in style than it has ever been earlier than, with a rising and evolving fanbase, and a formidable roster of top-tier international auto-manufacturers.
“The settlement introduced at present underlines the funding within the championship from each the FIA and the ACO, and our dedication to proceed bringing the game to new audiences. It’s a pivotal second within the historical past of FIA WEC, and gives the inspiration and stability wanted for the championship’s ongoing success.”
Frédéric Lequien, CEO of the Le Mans Endurance Administration, the promoter for the FIA World Endurance Championship, stated: “This settlement comes at an thrilling time for the FIA World Endurance Championship. The championship is experiencing distinctive momentum, with rising engagement from producers, groups, companions, media, and followers all over the world. The extension gives a powerful framework to construct on this development, additional strengthen the worldwide attraction of the WEC and proceed to ship a world-class championship on the forefront of endurance racing. We’re trying ahead to an bold and thrilling future for the FIA WEC.”
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Notes to Editors
The renewed settlement between the FIA and the ACO follows three different vital long-term settlement bulletins since July 2025:
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FIA and System E signal landmark extension to energy System E World Championship for one more 10 years, introduced in July 2025 – information here
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Multi-year Concorde Governance Settlement between the FIA, System 1 Group and all 11 race groups, introduced in December 2025 – information here
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These bulletins kind a part of the FIA’s strategic funding in the way forward for motor sport, because it continues its mission to develop participation within the sport and supply a secure and accessible platform for all.
The FIA has seen a radical transformation since 2021, and earlier this 12 months announced that it had delivered its strongest set of economic ends in a decade in 2025, with an working revenue of €6.7m. It additionally reported an distinctive acquire of €20m by means of the System E contract extension.
In regards to the FIA
The Fédération Internationale de l’Vehicle (FIA) is the governing physique for world motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations globally. It’s a non-profit organisation dedicated to driving innovation and championing security, sustainability and equality throughout motor sport and mobility.
Based in 1904, with places of work in Paris, London and Geneva, the FIA brings collectively 246 Member Organisations throughout 5 continents, representing hundreds of thousands of street customers, motor sport professionals and volunteers. It develops and enforces laws for motor sport, together with six FIA World Championships, to make sure worldwide competitions are secure and truthful for all.
In regards to the ACO
Based in 1906, the Vehicle Membership de l’Ouest (ACO) is the creator and organiser of main motorsport occasions: the primary Grand Prix in historical past in 1906, adopted by the 24 Hours of Le Mans beginning in 1923. The ACO has additionally been the organiser and promoter of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) since 2012 and the creator of continental collection: the European Le Mans Sequence (2004) and the Asian Le Mans Sequence (2013). The ACO organises the 24 Hours of Le Mans Bike Race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans Karting, the 24 Hours of Le Mans Truck Race, and the French Bike Grand Prix on its Le Mans circuits…
The 24 Hours of Le Mans serves as a real technological laboratory centered on automotive innovation. It’s on this spirit that the ACO continues to evolve. Sustainable mobility – embodied particularly by MissionH24, which goals to introduce hydrogen to the 24 Hours of Le Mans – is a key goal for the ACO.
Since 2024, the ACO has held the FIA’s 3-star environmental accreditation and is ISO 20121 licensed, the benchmark for accountable occasion administration. In September 2024, the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit was additionally voted “France’s Favorite Monument.”
About FIA WEC
The FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC), created in 2012 by the Fédération Internationale de l’Vehicle (FIA) and the Vehicle Membership de l’Ouest (ACO), represents the undisputed pinnacle of the long-distance self-discipline.
Bringing collectively the world’s main producers, largest manufacturers, high drivers and most profitable groups, FIA WEC races across the globe, pushing the boundaries of pace, efficiency and sturdiness whereas encouraging ever-greater feats of strategic ability. If the quick and fearless drivers are the heroes, then the automobiles are the celebrities, from their cutting-edge expertise to their dynamic design. After which, in fact, there may be the sound of the engines – that uncompromising, unadulterated roar.
The cornerstone of the calendar is the enduring 24 Hours of Le Mans, an occasion born in 1923 that continues to function the final word check for producers searching for to show their mettle – however each race has its personal character, challenges and pitfalls. As a collection with a proud historical past, a compelling current and an exhilarating future, FIA WEC stays endurance racing’s international benchmark, repeatedly setting the usual within the sport and provoking generations to come back.
