The 2027 FIA World Endurance Championship will herald the return of an old favourite, as Silverstone prepares to welcome the international pinnacle of the long-distance discipline for the first time in almost a decade. To say drivers are excited about the addition to the calendar would be something of an understatement...
FIA WEC and Silverstone go back a long way, with the series’ fourth-ever event taking place at the celebrated ‘Home of British Motorsport’ back in 2012. It was won by the #1 Audi Sport Team Joest R18 e-tron quattro that would go on to clinch the inaugural world championship crown in the hands of Benoît Treluyer, Marcel Fässler and current Genesis Magma Racing driver, André Lotterer.
“I’m very happy to see the series coming back to Silverstone and adding another race to the schedule,” enthused the ultra-experienced German. “I think it’s really going in the right direction.
“Silverstone has a lot of history, and it was super-fun driving there in LMP1. We had some great battles, and I think it will generate great racing again. Motorsport is huge in the UK, so I hope we’re going to receive a lot of support from the fans. I’m really looking forward to it!”
Another driver on the grid there 14 years ago was 2026 FIA WEC returnee, Jonny Adam, who last weekend reached the LMGT3 category rostrum in Heart of Racing Team’s Aston Martin Vantage AMR at the 24 Hours of Le Mans alongside ‘Dudu’ Barrichello and Gray Newell. The home hero finished runner-up in-class in the 6 Hours of Silverstone in 2018.
“We had great fun back in 2012,” reflected the Scot. “We ran as Aston Martin Racing with the naturally-aspirated V8 engine and iconic Gulf livery – it was awesome to be a part of that. The noise of the car with its GT2 exhaust pipes was pretty special and attracted a lot of people to come and see it, and while the race didn’t go 100 per cent for us – we were running quite consistently inside the top five but had a small issue near to the end that forced us to retire – it was a really cool event.
“Silverstone is iconic as a circuit because it’s very high-speed in nature with corners like Copse, Maggots and Becketts and it’s very wide and open, with so many overtaking points throughout the lap.
“Like myself, a lot of teams, drivers and personnel that are based in the UK will be really excited to have a home event and obviously from the Aston Martin side, it’ll be a huge spectacle to have both the fan-favourite Valkyrie and Vantage there, causing a stir and bringing some noise!”
Indeed, Silverstone was where the Valkyrie’s journey began early last year, when Aston Martin THOR Team Hypercar driver Harry Tincknell put the striking British Racing Green prototype through its paces in Northamptonshire during the course of its first shakedown run. The West Country ace prevailed at the circuit in FIA WEC’s LMGTE Pro category in 2017 – a result replicated by James Calado the following season.
“Silverstone is one of the best tracks,” remarked the reigning world champion, “and I’m sure with a Hypercar like the Ferrari 499P, it’s only going to be more enjoyable. I know it’s something the British fans have always wanted, and no doubt the turnout will be good, like we have seen over recent years in FIA WEC.
“It’s nice to get a home race for myself, especially at the highest level. It was a great thrill to stand on the top step of the podium there in 2018, during a season that ended with my first victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and I’m really looking forward to going back.”
Other current Hypercar contenders to have triumphed at Silverstone in the past are TOYOTA RACING pair Sébastien Buemi and Mike Conway. Both won there on the way to clinching their first world championship crown – in 2014 for the Swiss star, and five years later for his British stablemate.
“It’s mega to be back at Silverstone,” said Buemi. “I can’t wait to return! It’s a great circuit with lots of history and lots of fans who know so much about racing – I think everyone is very much looking forward to that race.”
“It’s exciting to be going back to Silverstone,” echoed Conway. “It’s a track I’ve done a lot of racing at over the years, even before FIA WEC. The last time we were there was during the LMP1 days, since when, there have been quite a few changes to the circuit and its facilities.
“We always had a good crowd, and it will be great for the British fans to experience endurance racing as it is today. To have another race on the calendar will be a big challenge for the teams and a lot of fun.”
The last word goes to BMW M Team WRT’s Kevin Magnussen, who competed in 10 grands prix at Silverstone from 2014 to 2024 but has yet to tackle its demanding 5.891km layout in a Hypercar. It is an experience he is relishing.
“Silverstone is one of the truly iconic circuits in world motorsport,” the Dane commented. “It’s a track every driver enjoys because it’s so fast and flowing, and when you get a car hooked-up through corners like Maggots, Becketts and Copse, it’s a pretty special feeling.
“I also have a lot of memories from my Formula 1 years there. The atmosphere is always great and the British fans are incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about racing. I think Silverstone fits naturally on the FIA WEC calendar, so it’s great to see it coming back for 2027!”
Tickets are already on sale for next season’s 6 Hours of Silverstone, which will take place on 23-25 April. Find out more!
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