Entering its fifth season of competition the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship year on year provides fresh faces from other areas of the sport. Whether they come from GP2, Formula Renault 3.5, domestic GT series or the US racing scene, the WEC is a haven for both young talent and also ambitious amateur drivers.
This season sees a large collective of former F1, GP3, F3 and GP2 frontrunners and race winners attempt to carve out a new direction in their careers. Stephane Richelmi, Gustavo Menezes, Matt Rao, Vitaly Petrov, James Jakes and Will Stevens will all become accustomed to the special WEC ambience this weekend at the Prologue as they embark on their new adventure.
There remain, however, many familiar faces in the paddock and between them they have amassed a staggering, combined 288 starts in the WEC! Nine drivers have a 100% attendance record of 32 race appearances since the very first event at Sebring in March 2012. The nine ever-present drivers are: Julien Canal, Marcel Fassler, Marc Lieb, Andre Lotterer, Gianluca Roda, Paolo Ruberti, Stephane Sarrazin, Benoit Treluyer and Darren Turner.
WEC stat-atttack – The superlatives of the WEC!
Most starters: 56 cars, 2012 and 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours
Most starters, including non-WEC: 62 cars, 2012 Sebring 12 Hours
Most Finishers: 43, 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours
Most finishers, including non-WEC: 51, 2012 Sebring 12 Hours
Highest Finishing Percentage: 97%, 2015 Nürburgring 6 Hours & 2015 Fuji 6 Hours (Note: 100% of starters finished in abbreviated 2013 Fuji 6 Hours)
Fastest Race: 224.200 km/h, 2015 Le Mans 24 Hours
Fastest 6 Hour Race: 198.768, 2014 Spa-Francorchamps 6 Hours
Fastest Qualifying Speed: 249.201 km/h, 2015 Le Mans 24 Hours (Porsche 919 Hybrid, Jani)
Fastest Qualifying Speed, other than Le Mans: 219.698 km/h, 2015 Spa-Francorchamps 6 Hours (Porsche 919 Hybrid)
Fastest Race Lap: 248.459 km/h, 2015 Le Mans 24 Hours, (Audi R18 e-tron quattro, Lotterer)
Fastest Race Lap, other than Le Mans: 213.729, 2015 Spa-Francorchamps 6 Hours, (Porsche 919 Hybrid, Hartley)
Narrowest Margin of Victory: 0:01.901, 2013 Fuji 6 Hours (race ended under caution)
Narrowest Competitive Margin of Victory: 0:03.462, 2013 Silverstone 6 Hours
Widest Margin of Victory: 4 laps. 2012 Sebring 12 Hours
