Photo : LAURENT CARTALADE / VSA

 

The 2015 schedule is a continuation of the previous three seasons, with eight races once again filling the line up of 6 Hour and 24 Hour events, including a new event at the Nürburgring in Germany at the end of August. The 2015 season will start on the 27/28 March with The Prologue at the Circuit Paul Ricard in France for the official test and is the traditional first chance for the media and fans to see the new cars all in one place, including the new LMP1 manufacturer entry from Nissan alongside the hybrid prototypes from Audi, Porsche and Toyota.

As in the previous two years, the opening race of the year will be at Silverstone, where the teams will compete for the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy at the season opener. The 2015 WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps will be the fourth time the Belgium round has taken place at the start of May for the customary last race before the ‘Big One’, the 24 Heures du Mans in June.

The 6 Hours of Nürburgring is the new race in 2015 and means that German teams Audi and Porsche will race at home for the first time in the history of the World Endurance Championship. The 6 Hours of São Paulo is not being held due to the pit building renovation work which will not be completed in time for the August race date. The 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas in September is the first of four races overseas, with the Lone Star Le Mans event being a joint race weekend with the Tudor United Sports Car Championship (also to be noted: an event in Montreal is still under discussion for an entry in 2017). The Lone Star Le Mans will be followed by races in Fuji, Shanghai and the finale in Bahrain at the end of November.

“This calendar represents continuity and stability,” said Gerard Neveu. “We are very excited about visiting the Nürburgring and holding the first FIA WEC race in Germany, which will be a good homecoming for Audi and Porsche. Nürburgring has a long history with endurance racing and this event will be a good opportunity to celebrate it with both a modern paddock with the FIA WEC, and a historic paddock with the 50th anniversary of the 1000 Kms of Nürburgring. With this new calendar we have reduced the summer break and it will provide around one race per month.” “The eight-race calendar means we are also building the tradition of 6-hour events in the countries we visit,” added Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest. “To maintain all of the races at the same time of the season for at least three years is a very positive move. The 2015 FIA WEC calendar will provide a great mix of entertainment and sporting action, with the highlight of the season coming in June with the 24 Heures du Mans, which remains the jewel in the endurance racing crown. We look forward to seeing you in 2015.”

2015 FIA World Endurance Championship Provisional Calendar (**)
27/28 March: Prologue (Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet)
12 April: 6 Hours of Silverstone
02 May: 6 Hours of Spa
31 May: 24 Hours of Le Mans Test Day
13/14 June: 24 Hours of Le Mans
30 August: 6 Hours of Nurburging
19 September: 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas ( Lone Star le Mans)
11 October: 6 Hours of Fuji
1 November: 6 Hours of Shanghai
21 November: 6 Hours of Bahrain
** Subject to clarification by the FIA World Motor Sport Council

Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, WEDNESDAY JUNE 11, 2014, FREE PRACTICE AND QUALIFYING. In 2015, Porsche and Audi will compete on home turf for the first time at the Nurburgring on August 30.