At each World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) race, full-season entries look to score points in their quest to claim one of the titles and trophies. For the six-hour rounds, the winner in each of the four classes (LMP1, LMP2, LMGTE Pro and LMGTE Am) scores 25 points, with 18 points awarded to the runner-up.

However, up until 2017, a special scale for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, published in article 11.3 of the FIA WEC Sporting Regulations, allocated 50 points to the winner and 36 to the second-placed car. From this year, however, the points on offer at Le Mans are worth one-and-a-half times the six-hour “norm”, instead of double. Where the calculation produces a fraction, the points are rounded up to the nearest whole number. The winner therefore collects 38 points.

The scale has only been revised for the first nine places. Tenth place is still worth two points, while the competitors lower than tenth in the general classification will continue to pick up a point.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans also attracts competitors from the European Le Mans Series, Asian Le Mans Series and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, but only teams entered on the official FIA WEC list can score championship points.

At the 2017 race, for example, a Chevrolet Corvette C7.R finished third in the LMGTE Pro class, but it was the fourth-placed Porsche 911 RSR that scooped the championship points awarded to third as the American manufacturer does not compete in the FIA WEC.

A bonus point is awarded at every championship race for pole position in each class.

Points awarded at the 24 Hours of Le Mans

• 1st = 38 points
• 2nd = 27 points
• 3rd = 23 points
• 4th = 18 points
• 5th = 15 points
• 6th = 12 points
• 7th = 9 points
• 8th = 6 points
• 9th = 3 points
• 10th = 2 points

Lower than 10th place in the general classification = 1 point

Photo (copyright ACO / Nikon): The #97 AMV wins the LMGTE Pro class at the 2017 Le Mans 24 Hours.