The FIA and the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) have officially signed a ten-year extension to jointly promote the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), securing the long-term future of the sportscar racing series until the end of the 2037 season.
The announcement comes just weeks after German media outlet Auto Motor und Sport reported tensions between the two organisations, even suggesting a possible split next year. However, both the FIA and the ACO immediately clarified that the existing deal expires after 2027, not 2026 as reported. The new agreement, announced on Wednesday, adds another decade to the existing contract.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem welcomed the deal: "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," he said. "This is a deal built for the future, a deal of the century, one that strengthens the collaboration between the FIA and ACO, a relationship that dates back over 120 years, and sets the championship up for a decade of record growth that will deliver real benefits to fans, drivers, teams and manufacturers."
ACO President Pierre Fillon added: "We are delighted to see the agreement between the FIA and the ACO extended, reinforcing the strong and long-standing relationship that has been at the heart of the FIA World Endurance Championship since its creation in 2012. This partnership has been built on trust, shared ambition, and a common commitment to the development of endurance racing."
In a joint statement, the FIA and the ACO said the extended agreement "ensures a common ambition to expand the partnership and drive commercial success". When the extension comes into force, all regulatory processes will be overseen by the FIA Working Group and FIA Endurance Championship, with the World Motor Sport Council responsible for ratifying all decisions. The FIA and ACO will also oversee the homologation of all cars competing in the Hypercar class.
The deal puts an end to speculation about a possible split. Earlier, German media reported tensions between the FIA and ACO, suggesting a separation after the 2026 season. But both organisations quickly denied this, stating the current contract runs until 2027. Now, with the extension until 2037, stability and sustainable growth for the WEC and endurance racing as a whole are assured.
The WEC is currently enjoying a golden era with the presence of many manufacturers in the Hypercar class, such as Toyota, Porsche, Ferrari, and others. This contract extension is expected to attract more manufacturers and strengthen the championship's global competitiveness. With long-term certainty, teams and manufacturers can better plan their participation, including technology development and racing strategies.
The agreement also underscores the FIA and ACO's commitment to continue developing endurance racing, including the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours operated by the ACO. The relationship spanning over 120 years provides a strong foundation for an even brighter WEC future. Fans can look forward to increasingly competitive and innovative racing in the years to come.
Baca Juga
FIA dan ACO resmi memperpanjang kemitraan WEC selama 10 tahun hingga 2037, memastikan masa depan balap ketahanan dan meredam spekulasi perpecahan.
AF Corse dan Cetilar Racing akan berlaga di Asian Le Mans Series 2026/2027 dengan Ferrari 499P. Balapan digelar di Eropa karena konflik Timur Tengah.
Toyota menang dramatis di 6 Hours of Fuji, merebut kemenangan dari Alpine di akhir balapan dan memimpin klasemen WEC dengan dua putaran tersisa.
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