WEC News: The Most Anticipated Races of the 2025 WEC season

As the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) goes from strength to strength and enjoys astronomical levels of popularity, every ingredient is in place for a memorable 2025 WEC season. This year, the championship will visit eight countries across four continents and thus cement its position as the world’s leading motorsport tournament.

WEC’s Basics Explained

Before we get started with this year’s calendar, it is essential to note that WEC significantly differs from other racing series like Formula 1.

Instead of single drivers competing in short races, a team-based competition is imposed where up to three drivers can share one car. Races here can last 6 to 24 hours, depending on the venue.

For many, this format creates a faster-paced environment where teamwork is arguably more crucial than outright speed.

The Classes in 2025

The 2025 season introduced a total of 36 cars split between two separate classes:

• Hypercar: For many, this category is the epitome of endurance racing, with eight manufacturers being its fielding entries.
• LMGT3: This is a GT3 production-based category with nine manufacturers.

Each class has its own championship competition while participating on the same track. Let’s examine the classes and their manufacturers in more detail.

Scoring Structure

The scoring and points system in the World Endurance Championship is unique, and it varies based on the length of the race:

• 6-hour race: Winners get 25 points
• 8-10-hours races: 38 points for a win
• 24-hour races: 50 points for victory

Racers down to 10th place in each class get a certain number of points, so they need to be consistent throughout the series to have any chance of success.

A Jaw-Dropping Entry List

The competition starts in Qatar, and fans eager for it to start will be pretty content with the list of entries. It includes 108 drivers, among which there are some heavy-hitters, to say the least.

Jenson Button instantly stands out, with the F1 legend preparing for his second go at the WEC after declaring he feels more awake and alive before last year’s championship. He teams up with four-time Champ Car Champion Sebastien Bourdais.

Robert Kubica also returns in AF Corse’s Ferrari 499P, while Kevin Magnussen switched his allegiances to the BMW M Team WRT prototypes. Mick Schumacher and Eduardo Barrichello also joined, alongside seven-time Moto GP World Champion Valentino Rossi, who continues his journey with Team WRT in LMGT3.

2025 WEC SEASON PROVISIONAL ENTRY LIST – v3

TIRES – M: MICHELIN / G: GOODYEAR

CATEGORIZATION – P: PLATINUM / G: GOLD / S: SILVER / B: BRONZE

Key Storylines to Look Out For during the 2025 WEC Season

Besides the exciting entry list, there are a few more interesting storylines that you ought to keep an eye on in WEC’s 2025 edition.

The manufacturer’s lineup oversaw some significant evolution. For starters, Mercedes-AMG made its highly-anticipated debut in the championship by partnering with Iron Lynx. This marked the prestigious German car giant to endurance racing, and everyone is eager to find out how they cope.

Let’s also not forget the Iron Dames project that continues to break down gender barriers in motorsport. The Iron Dames WEC entry has been confirmed, and it’s all-female driver lineup includes Michelle Gatting, Rahel Frey, and Celia Martin at the wheel of Porsche. This proves that talent and determination are much bigger than gender boundaries, at least in the WEC.

Moving on, Toyota is one of the manufacturers that faces a strong challenge as they seek to continue their dominance in WEC. This year, the Japanese manufacturing giant is severely threatened by several competitors, including Aston Martin, which introduced its revolutionary Valkyrie Program.

This represents both a link to Aston Martin’s Le Mans win back in 1959 and a step into the ‘unknown’ with the hypercar developed.

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Motorsports and gaming go hand in hand, appealing to fans who love strategy, excitement, and high-stakes action. That’s why endurance racing has become a major focus for online sportsbooks and casinos looking to connect with passionate racing enthusiasts.

Curtain-Raiser and the Full 2025 WEC Season Calendar

The WEC gets underway in Qatar, with its 1,812 km race taking place between 26 and 28 February. Note that it is preceded by the so-called “Prologue” group test, which takes place at the same circuit five days earlier—on February 21st and 22nd.

Of course, the Qatar race will be the first of eight in the Championship. As stated beforehand, races vary in duration — from six hours to 24 — which will also determine the number of points for winners and top-ranked racers.

Once the Qatari contest is all done and dusted, it will be time for round two in the 6-hour race in the Italian city of Imola. This circuit made its debut in 2024, so the organisers decided to give it another go following its successful introduction.

The 6-hour Spa-Francorchamps is one of the most coveted circuits and a staple of the entire WEC, so it needs no further introduction. We can say the same about the 24-hour race in Le Mans, which is also among the highly-anticipated circuits in WCE this year.

Then, the Interlagos in Brazil and Austin’s Circuit of the Americas in Texas must also be mentioned, both taking place in mid-season. The WEC will then switch to the other side of the world in Fuji in Japan, with a 6-hour race, before drawing down the curtains in the traditional Bahrain finale.

Therefore, it is very difficult to say which race is the most anticipated one, as each mention has its own unique charm and characteristics that will cater to the wider motorsport audience. Therefore, the best course of action is to not miss out on any race, so here is a detailed overview of the calendar that you can refer to:

2025 WEC Season Calendar

• February 21-22: Official Prologue in Qatar
• February 26-28: Qatar 1,812 km
• April 18-20: Imola’s 6-hour race in Italy
• May 8-10: TotalEnergies 6-hour race in Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium
• June 11-15: Le Mans’ 24-hour race in France
• July 11-13: 6 hours in Rolex’s Sao Paulo in Brazil
• September 5-7: Lone Star Le Mans in the US
• September 26-28: Fuji’s 6-hour race in Japan
• November 6-8: Season finale in Bapco Energies, an 8-hour race in Bahrain

Ready to Race – Key Facts Before the 2025 WEC Season Starts

Now that you have all the necessary information, you can sit back and wait for the WEC to start. Unforgettable races are sure to entertain you in 2025, so before it all unfolds, we can wrap up this overview with a few important facts that you need to know:

• Thirty-six entries in two classes are equally distributed.
• In total, 108 drivers from 28 different nations will compete. France and the UK have the most drivers, with 16 each, while Italy is just behind with 14 racers.
• Aston Martin has entered the Hypercar category for the first time. Its two Valkyrie products are widely anticipated among fans and experts, and they run under the Aston Martin THOR Team Banner.
• Mercedes-AMG makes its first WEC appearance in partnership with Iron Lynx in the LMGT3 class. Mercedes returns to Le Mans for the first time in 26 years.
• In total, there are 13 automotive giants in WEC 2025, which guarantees competition and innovation.