The FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) continues to grow in strength, featuring a surge of manufacturer involvement, top-tier driving talent, and record-breaking event attendance.
Frederic Lequien, the CEO of the WEC, described the current period as a 'golden age' for endurance racing, crediting the success to the championship's updated format and regulations.
As the premier sports-car racing series, the WEC is divided into two main classes. The premier Hypercar division showcases prototype vehicles specifically engineered by manufacturers for competition, while the slower LMGT3 category typically features private teams racing modified production cars.
The introduction of Hypercar regulations was a strategic response to declining manufacturer interest. The prior LMP1 category saw only seven full-time entries in its final 2020 season, with Toyota as the sole manufacturer.
To rejuvenate participation, the WEC implemented cost reductions and allowed diverse technical solutions, permitting both hybrid and non-hybrid powertrains under capped power output limits, as well as options for rear-wheel or four-wheel drive.
Since Hypercar's debut in 2021 with three manufacturers, the class has expanded to eight competitors, including major brands like Ferrari, Cadillac, BMW, and Porsche, now fielding 18 full-time entries.
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