Story perspectives

FIA and ACO extend WEC partnership through 2037

By Drooid · Sep 30, 2026, 3:21 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

FIA & ACO Extend

FIA and ACO signed a decade-long deal extending the World Endurance Championship partnership to 2037.
All WEC regulations now need approval from FIA Working Groups, the Endurance Commission and the World Motor Sport Council.
Hypercar homologation will be jointly overseen by the FIA and ACO.
Ford and McLaren will join the Hypercar class in 2027.
Porsche announced its factory exit after the 2025 season.

Summary

Aitken Needs Top-Nine

Jack Aitken leads IMSA by 147 points and must finish top nine to clinch the title.
Earl Bamber and Frederik Vesti join Aitken as co-drivers at Road Atlanta.
Bamber missed a previous race because of a schedule clash with the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Laurin Heinrich must win and cut the gap to 149 points while Aitken finishes tenth or worse.

Summary

Cetilar Racing Enters

Organizers moved 2026/27 Asian Le Mans Series to southern Europe after Middle-East conflict forced Abu Dhabi and Dubai cancellations.
The calendar lists six four-hour races at Paul Ricard, Jerez and Portimão, totaling 24 hours.
Entry deadline was extended by a week to attract more Hypercar teams.
Bronze-rated driver rules block the Asian Hypercar champion from a Le Mans invitation.
Cetilar Racing became the first private team to field a Ferrari 499P in the series.

History

Historical Context

2014 saw the FIA and the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) sign a joint governance pact that unified World Endurance Championship rules under one regulator. The deal allocated $150 million to a Hypercar program, enabling Ford and McLaren to debut in 2027 while Porsche will leave after 2025. This follows the FIA’s long-standing authority, founded in 1904 and exercised through its World Motor Sport Council, shaping global endurance calendars.

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FIA & ACO Extend

FIA and ACO signed a decade-long deal extending the World Endurance Championship partnership to 2037.
All WEC regulations now need approval from FIA Working Groups, the Endurance Commission and the World Motor Sport Council.
Hypercar homologation will be jointly overseen by the FIA and ACO.
Ford and McLaren will join the Hypercar class in 2027.
Porsche announced its factory exit after the 2025 season.

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