FIA WEC: A truly international championship
You would expect a World Championship to visit several continents, wouldn’t you? The FIA World Endurance Championship will, in 2013, visit eight prestigious circuits on four continents so it definitely ticks that box.
In competition at this level, you would also expect teams from all over the world to take part in the hope of being crowned a ‘World Champion’, and the FIA WEC entry list doesn’t disappoint. Eleven different nations will be represented across the four categories, LMP1 and LMP2, LMGTE Pro and Am, for the entire season…with the Chinese KCMG LMP2 entry bringing that number up to 12 for the opening round, the 6 Hours of Silverstone, on 14th April.
Audi Sport in LMP1 and Porsche teams in both of the LMGTE classes account for five German entries among the 35 cars on the Silverstone entry list, with the two Lotus entries in LMP2 bringing up the Germanic tally to seven.
Numerically that number is matched only by British-based teams: from Strakka Racing in LMP1, whose Union Flag adorns the aerodynamic bodywork fin, to Delta-ADR and Greaves Motorsport in LMP2, to the four Aston Martin entries in the LMGTE classes – all hoping to give the historic luxury marque something to celebrate in its centenary year.
No less than five cars will be proudly flying ‘le tricolore’ at Silverstone: three Oak Racing Morgan-Nissans in LMP2, the reigning LMGTE Am champions Larbre Compétition, and newcomer to the FIA WEC in that same category but a name of renown in endurance racing, IMSA Performance Matmut.
The USA and Italy both have three cars bearing their national colours – LMP2 Champions Starworks back to defend its title, and Krohn Racing going for honours in LMGTE Am alongside newcomer 8Star Motorsports. Italy, of course, means Ferraris and Ferraris means AF Corse with its entries across both GTE classes.
Japan’s Toyota Racing and Switzerland’s Rebellion Racing go head-to-head in LMP1 with two entries apiece, while Gulf Racing Middle East’s two Lola Coupe Nissans represent the Middle East’s United Arab Emirates. Russia, Canada and Argentina join China in being the sole ambassador in the FIA WEC for their individual country, each demonstrating the reach and popularity of endurance racing across the globe.
And what about the drivers? Tom Kristensen leads a charge of drivers from Denmark, Bruno Senna will be a huge star for the 6 Hours of São Paulo, while Venezuelans Enzo Potolicchio and Alex Popow will be as popular at the Circuit of the Americas as Cong Fu Chen will be in Shanghai. No less than 20 different countries will be represented across the driver line ups for the FIA WEC, but that’s a story for another day!
Fiona Miller
Photo: SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT, TOWCESTER (NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, GREAT BRITAIN), 6 HOURS OF SILVERSTONE 2012. The flags of many different nations will be flying in the Silverstone paddock on 14th April 2013.