FIA World Endurance Championship: Classes, Points, Calendar

The FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) is the FIA and ACO’s top international sports-car endurance series, founded in 2012. Different classes race on track together in events lasting 6 to 24 hours, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 2026 the classes are Hypercar and LMGT3, and the championship awards points scaled to race length.

Quick answer

• Classes in 2026: Hypercar (top class) and LMGT3 (GT3-based, customer teams, Pro-Am crews).
• Race lengths: 6 hours at most rounds, up to 24 hours at Le Mans.
• Points: 25 for a 6-hour win, 50 for a Le Mans win.
• Qualifying: 12-minute session, then a 10-minute Hyperpole.

FIA World Endurance Championship classes

The FIA WEC runs two classes on the same circuit at once.

• Hypercar: the top class, which decides the Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ World Championships. It replaced LMP1 and accepts both LMH and LMDh cars.
• LMGT3: introduced in 2024 to replace LMGTE, with production-based GT3 cars, private teams and Pro-Am driver line-ups.

The WEC lists 14 manufacturers for 2026: Alpine, Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Corvette, Ferrari, Ford, Genesis, Lexus, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG, Peugeot, Porsche and Toyota.

Hypercar rules and Balance of Performance

The FIA’s Hypercar explainer says the rules set windows for weight, power and aero rather than dictating the design. Its 2023 article gave a power cap of 520 kW and a minimum weight of 1,030 kg, so check current technical regulations for 2026. Hybrid and non-hybrid power units are both allowed.

The FIA and ACO use Balance of Performance (BoP) to keep different designs close. Read their BoP explainer for how it works.

Race weekend format and qualifying

Several free practice sessions come first. Since 2024 each class has its own qualifying block: a 12-minute session, then a 10-minute Hyperpole for the ten fastest cars. The fastest car in Hyperpole takes pole and one extra championship point. See the series’ race weekend format.

WEC points system

Points go to the top ten, and longer races pay more, per the official points table.

Position	6-hour race	8h, 10h or 1812 km	24 Hours of Le Mans
1st	25	38	50
2nd	18	27	36
3rd	15	23	30
4th	12	18	24
5th	10	15	20
6th	8	12	16
7th	6	9	12
8th	4	6	8
9th	2	3	4
10th	1	2	2

2026 WEC calendar

The official 2026 season page lists these rounds. Dates can change, so confirm on the series site.

Round	Event	Date
1	6 Hours of Imola	19 April
2	6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps	9 May
3	24 Hours of Le Mans	13 June
4	6 Hours of São Paulo	12 July
5	Lone Star Le Mans	6 September
6	6 Hours of Fuji	27 September
7	6 Hours of Barcelona	18 October
8	6 Hours of Monza	8 November

More on endurance racing

For background, see our guides to race track types and layouts, the Porsche 962 and Japanese race cars.

FIA World Endurance Championship FAQ

What is the FIA World Endurance Championship?

It is the FIA and ACO’s international sports-car endurance series, founded in 2012, with races from 6 hours to 24 hours that include the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Which classes race in the WEC in 2026?

Hypercar and LMGT3. Hypercar is the top class, and LMGT3 is for GT3-based cars with customer teams and Pro-Am line-ups.

How many points does a WEC win give?

A win scores 25 points in a 6-hour race, 38 points in an 8-hour, 10-hour or 1812 km race, and 50 points at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

How does WEC qualifying work?

Each class has a 12-minute qualifying session, then a 10-minute Hyperpole for the ten fastest cars. Pole earns one extra championship point.

What is Balance of Performance?

BoP is how the FIA and ACO adjust cars to keep different Hypercar designs competitive, using limits on weight, power and aero performance.

Is the WEC the same as the 24 Hours of Le Mans?

No. Le Mans is one round of the championship, and it is the flagship event with the highest points.