The 2025 World Endurance Championship (WEC) calendar has been officially announced, and there are some interesting clashes and renewals to note. One of the main highlights is that the iconic Le Mans 24 Hours race is set to clash with the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix and IndyCar’s St Louis round at Gateway. This scheduling conflict is the first time F1 and Le Mans have overlapped since 2016.
Additionally, the historic Imola circuit in Italy has extended its contract with the WEC for another four years, following a successful one-year deal in 2024. The renewal was celebrated with a public signing ceremony at the Le Mans 24 Hours event. This decision was made after the WEC switched from Monza to Imola this year due to paddock renovations at the former venue.
Imola’s Mayor, Marco Panieri, expressed his enthusiasm for the continued partnership with the WEC, highlighting the positive impact the series has on the local infrastructure and economy. The city plans to enhance facilities like pit boxes and the fan zone to provide a better experience for visitors and staff.
Despite the clashes between races, the 2025 WEC calendar will feature the same eight events in the same order as the current year. The decision not to expand to nine races was influenced by cost considerations, as stated by Pierre Fillon, the president of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, which co-organizes the WEC. The series aims to maintain its successful formula of established circuits across different continents.
Richard Mille, the president of the FIA Endurance Commission, emphasized the importance of maintaining the current schedule, which offers a diverse range of tracks and locations for endurance racing fans. The upcoming season will see the return of the WEC to Austin, following a successful event in 2024, and will kick off in Qatar in late February to accommodate the early Ramadan period.
Overall, the 2025 WEC calendar promises an exciting lineup of races across the globe, with familiar circuits and new opportunities for fans to witness top-tier endurance racing action. The ratified calendar by the FIA World Motor Sport Council ensures that the championship will continue to captivate audiences and showcase the best of endurance racing in the coming year.