The UK will return to the World Endurance Championship for the primary time in eight years, with Silverstone becoming a member of an expanded nine-round calendar for the 2027 season.
Forward of this weekend’s Le Mans 24 Hours, WEC promoters the FIA and the Vehicle Membership de l’Ouest confirmed the addition of a six-hour race on the British Grand Prix venue on 25 April.
The Silverstone race will mark the third spherical of the 2027 WEC, slotting in between two current European races of the identical size at Imola and Spa.
The championship is once more as a result of kick off in Qatar on 27 March after this yr’s 1812km race at Losail was pushed again to later within the season as a result of geopolitical scenario within the Center East.
The ninety fifth version of Le Mans can be held on 12-13 June, as a part of a busy first half of the season that can see 5 rounds going down within the span of 4 months.
Following the conclusion of the European leg of the season, the WEC will head to the Americas and Asia as a part of a largely unchanged calendar.
The Sao Paulo occasion is scheduled on 11 July, with the Austin race following two months later in September.
Japan will once more host the penultimate spherical of the season, with the Fuji 6 Hours to be held on 26 September, whereas Bahrain will cap off the marketing campaign once more with an eight-hour day-to-night race on 6 November.
“Following a number of seasons of stability, the rising reputation of FIA WEC – amongst producers, media and followers – satisfied us that now’s the correct time to develop the schedule,” stated FIA WEC CEO Frederic Lequien.
“In Silverstone, we can be returning to a circuit with a historical past of producing thrilling racing and attracting enormous crowds, providing rivals an amazing problem whereas completely complementing the eight current venues. With 9 unmissable races throughout 5 world areas, one other sensational season appears assured!”
#35 Alpine Endurance Crew Alpine A424: Antonio Felix Da Costa, Charles Milesi, Ferdinand Habsburg
Photograph by: Marc Fleury
With 9 races unfold throughout as many months, the 2026 WEC would be the longest season within the championship’s historical past since 2017.
Silverstone was an annual fixture within the reborn WEC all through the 2010s, earlier than the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic led to structural modifications to the calendar.
The collection reverted to an annual format in 2021 after briefly working seasons throughout two calendar years, whereas additionally slashing the variety of races to 6 – with Silverstone one of many venues that had been dropped.
The WEC has since cautioned in opposition to increasing the calendar too shortly, pushing again plans to return to Silverstone regardless of its long-term ambitions to host as many as 10 rounds a yr.
A seventh race was solely added in 2023, whereas the WEC went again to eight races a yr in 2024 when it forayed into Qatar for the primary time.
The opportunity of Britain making a comeback appeared nearer than ever when the ACO introduced in direction of the top of final yr that Silverstone would rejoin the European Le Mans Sequence calendar in 2026.
Up to now, Silverstone hosted each ELMS and WEC races on the identical weekend, one thing it may nonetheless do in 2027, pending the affirmation of the ELMS calendar. This yr’s Silverstone ELMS spherical is scheduled for 14 September.
2027 WEC calendar
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