A powerful 14 internationally famend producers will battle for glory within the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2026, because the sequence appears to be like to construct on the momentum of a charming marketing campaign that noticed no fewer than eight completely different marques take the highest step of the rostrum throughout each courses this yr.
As in 2025, Alpine, Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Corvette, Ferrari, Ford, Lexus, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG, Peugeot, Porsche and Toyota will all take to the observe subsequent yr within the self-discipline’s pre-eminent world sequence, to be joined by Genesis, the premium arm of Hyundai, one of many world’s foremost carmakers.
Within the headlining Hypercar class, outfits representing Alpine, Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Genesis, Peugeot and Toyota might be aiming to dethrone defending champion Ferrari, after the Prancing Horse took a clear sweep of titles in its third season with the 499P – a automotive that is still unbeaten within the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the flagship occasion on the eight-round calendar.
Equally spectacular has been Manthey’s efficiency in LMGT3. The German GT racing powerhouse has clinched the coveted crown in each seasons because the Professional/Am class’ introduction in 2024, and can return to battle subsequent yr with a brace of potent Porsche 911 GT3 Rs looking for to finish the hat-trick.
To take action, nevertheless, the workforce might want to see off an ever-increasing problem from rivals fielding equipment from Aston Martin, BMW, Corvette, Ferrari, Ford, Lexus, McLaren and Mercedes-AMG – all of whom reached the podium in 2025, additional underscoring the championship’s ultra-competitive nature.
Richard Mille, FIA Endurance Fee President, mentioned: “Constructing upon the success and stability of latest seasons, the 2026 FIA WEC entry checklist is the product of all of the onerous work that has gone in behind-the-scenes in recent times to boost this magnificent championship to the extent at which it operates right this moment. Subsequent yr’s grid encapsulates the very essence of what endurance racing ought to be – main world marques, cutting-edge vehicles and a driver line-up mixing seasoned world champions with rising stars of the game and impressive amateurs. The end result, I’ve little doubt, is a surefire recipe for an additional compelling marketing campaign.”
Pierre Fillon, Vehicle Membership de l’Ouest (ACO) President, mentioned: “The 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship entry checklist as soon as once more brings collectively essentially the most achieved producers, drivers and groups in endurance racing. The Hypercar class celebrated an astonishing seven completely different profitable crews from eight races in 2025, and the silverware was equally broadly distributed in LMGT3, the place six completely different line-ups tasted victory. This distinctive stage of competitors confirms that each entrant is performing on the highest customary and hungry for fulfillment. We’re set for an additional excellent season – one which continues to advance expertise, sport and the way forward for endurance racing.”
Frédéric Lequien, FIA World Endurance Championship CEO, mentioned: “The presentation of the FIA WEC entry checklist is a proud second for us, notably when it consists of new additions as is the case for 2026 with the arrival of two Genesis Hypercars. We loved a massively entertaining season this yr, welcoming extra followers on-site than ever earlier than and attaining the very best engagement figures the sequence has ever seen. That’s testomony to the championship’s persevering with progress, and with Ford and McLaren equally set to swell the Hypercar grid in 2027, that reputation is simply set to speed up additional.”
The battle for 2026 FIA WEC honours will get underway with the curtain-raising contest – the Qatar 1812km – on 28 March, adopted by subsequent rounds at Imola (19 April), Spa-Francorchamps (9 Could), Le Mans (13-14 June), Interlagos (12 July), COTA (6 September) and Fuji (27 September), with the finale going down in Bahrain on 7 November.
