FIA AND ACO EXTEND WEC PARTNERSHIP UNTIL 2037
The FIA and the Automobile Club de l’Ouest have signed a new 10-year agreement that will keep their partnership over the FIA World Endurance Championship in place until the end of 2037. The current agreement runs until the end of 2027, meaning the new deal will add another decade to the relationship.
The agreement comes only weeks after reports of tensions between the FIA and ACO had raised questions about the future organisation of the championship. The FIA had previously confirmed that its existing agreement with the ACO remained valid until the end of 2027, while discussions over a longer extension were already taking place. The new deal now removes that uncertainty and provides a long-term framework for the WEC.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem described the new agreement as a “deal of the century” and said it is a vital step for the future of endurance racing. ACO President Pierre Fillon also welcomed the extension, saying the partnership has been based on shared goals and a common commitment to the development of endurance racing.
The new agreement will also define how the championship is regulated. FIA Working Groups and the FIA Endurance Commission will oversee the regulatory process, while final approval will remain with the FIA World Motor Sport Council. The FIA and ACO will also jointly oversee the homologation of cars competing in the Hypercar class.
The announcement arrives during a period of strong growth for the WEC. Trackside attendance has increased by 8% in 2026, while 44% of spectators this year are aged 34 or younger. The championship also reports that 40% of spectators are attending an FIA WEC event for the first time, showing a growing audience around the series.
The Hypercar class is also continuing to expand. Eight manufacturers are currently competing in the top category, while Ford and McLaren are scheduled to join the grid in 2027. Their arrival will add two major manufacturers to a field that already includes Toyota, Ferrari, BMW, Cadillac, Porsche, Peugeot, Aston Martin and Genesis.
The 2027 season will also be the biggest WEC calendar in a decade, with nine rounds planned. The championship will return to Silverstone for the first time since 2019 and will continue to visit Qatar, Imola, Spa-Francorchamps, Le Mans, São Paulo, Austin, Fuji and Bahrain.
The long-term agreement also comes at an important moment for the technical future of the championship. From 2030, the Hypercar category is planned to move to a single technical platform developed by the FIA, ACO and IMSA. The new rules will allow manufacturers to continue creating distinctive prototypes while using common technical requirements designed to control costs and create a stable environment for new manufacturers.
Under the 2030 regulations, all Hypercars will use rear-wheel drive and hybrid power. Manufacturers will be able to develop their own chassis or use a common chassis supplier, while hybrid systems can either be developed by manufacturers or purchased from an approved supplier. The homologation period will last at least five years, with performance changes limited to specific situations such as reliability, safety or a significant performance deficit.
Share this content:
