Why the WEC Decided Not to Increase its Calendar in 2025?

The World Endurance Championship (WEC) calendar will remain at eight races for 2025. The decision to not increase the number of events is due to cost considerations, according to the president of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), Pierre Fillon.

In 2024, the WEC will return to its traditional eight events after a temporary reduction caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Fillon explained that the decision to not add more races is due to the need to control costs, despite the growth of the championship.

In the past, the possibility of increasing the calendar to nine or even ten races had been suggested, as in 2016 and 2017. However, for now, the focus is on maintaining the sustainability of the championship. Fillon highlighted the interest of several circuits and promoters in hosting WEC races, including Silverstone, which was part of the calendar until the 2019/20 season.

The 2025 calendar will be announced during the week of the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the traditional ACO press conference. It is expected that the calendar will be similar to this season, with the exception of Monza, which will return as the host of the Italian race after Imola hosted it this year due to renovation works at Monza's facilities.

Austin will continue to host the American round, despite Roger Penske's interest in bringing the WEC race to the Indianapolis circuit. Recently, the head of the Porsche Penske Motorsport team mentioned that he did not expect this ambition to be fulfilled next year due to scheduling difficulties.

The decision to keep eight races has the support of manufacturers. Andreas Roos, head of BMW M Motorsport, commented that although motorsport is in a new era, it is crucial to ensure its sustainability before considering expanding the calendar. Thomas Laudenbach, head of Porsche Motorsport, shared this view, stating that marketing, visibility, and the fan base need to be improved first before thinking about increasing the number of races.