FIA WEC signs landmark agreement amid unprecedented manufacturer boom

The current agreement between the FIA and ACO, the organiser of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, runs until the end of 2027. The newly announced extension will immediately follow that deal and cover another ten years.

The agreement comes at a time when the WEC is enjoying significant growth. Eight manufacturers currently compete in the Hypercar category, while the addition of LMGT3 means 14 different marques are represented across the championship.

That number is set to grow further. Ford and McLaren are both preparing to enter the Hypercar class in 2027, adding two major manufacturers to a category that already features the likes of Ferrari, Toyota, Porsche and BMW.

The FIA says trackside attendance has increased by eight per cent in 2026. Of those attending WEC events this season, 44 per cent are aged 34 or younger, while 40 per cent are visiting a WEC race for the first time.

The agreement does not simply guarantee the championship's existence until 2037. The FIA will also take on a more prominent role in several areas.

Regulatory processes will be overseen by FIA Working Groups and the FIA Endurance Commission, with final approval coming from the FIA World Motor Sport Council. The homologation process will also be streamlined, with the FIA and ACO jointly overseeing the homologation of every car competing in Hypercar.

The FIA will additionally become much more visible at WEC events. Its branding will feature more prominently in parc fermé, on the podium, on the Safety Cars and during television coverage.

Another significant development is planned for 2030, when a more unified technical framework for the top level of endurance racing is due to be introduced across both the WEC and IMSA in North America.

The intention is to make it easier and more cost-effective for manufacturers to compete with their Hypercars in different championships and major endurance events around the world.

Hydrogen technology also remains part of the long-term plan, with the new agreement providing a framework for the further development of hydrogen powertrains in competition.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem described the agreement as crucial to the championship's future and believes endurance racing is currently experiencing a golden period.

"This is not simply an agreement, it is a vital step forward for racing that will secure the future of the FIA World Endurance Championship for years to come," Ben Sulayem said.

ACO president Pierre Fillon was similarly positive about extending a partnership that has underpinned the WEC since the championship was established in 2012.

"This partnership has been built on trust, shared ambition, and a common commitment to the development of endurance racing," Fillon said.