Official - A seventh round on the WEC calendar in 2023

As Endurance-Info revealed (see HERE), the 2023 calendar will feature seven rounds, one more than in 2022, and as many as from 2012 to 2015 and the 2018-19 and 2019-20 campaigns. There were even nine in 2016 and 2017.

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An additional meeting will be organised before the 24 Hours of Le Mans and even the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, as it will be held on 16 April. Portimão (Portugal) will be on the menu next season, despite the fact that it has been criticised by some competitors.

“I’m very pleased to see the FIA World Endurance Championship growing in strength, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President, said. I would like to thank everyone involved - the FIA, the ACO and the promoter of the FIA World Endurance Championship. Owing to the efforts of the promoter, the championship enjoys a strong and stable calendar. Looking forward, 2023 can’t come soon enough. The world’s most prestigious endurance race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans celebrates its centenary, on this occasion avoiding a clash with a Formula 1 grand prix. Also, the Hypercar will see the strongest entry to date, so there’s plenty to look forward to.“ 

Finally, as announced by Endurance-Info (see HERE), the 2023 edition of the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps - traditionally organised on the first weekend of May - will be moved forward by one week to avoid a clash of dates with the Monaco ePrix in Formula E.

Frédéric Lequien, FIA World Endurance Championship CEO: “We are very happy to announce the 2023 calendar for the FIA World Endurance Championship. It is a very exciting period for FIA WEC with the growth and calibre of our Hypercar class and we have expanded to include another event, with a return to Portugal. Portimão showcased its potential when we raced there in 2021, so it is fantastic to return there next year. We worked closely with all our stakeholders to produce a schedule which works well for the needs of our entrants and fans. 2023 should provide a fantastic season of racing and we can’t wait for it to get underway.”

WEC 2023 calendar :

We have all been eagerly awaiting the 2023 season since the introduction of the Hypercar category to the FIA World Endurance Championship. The line-up of iconic sportscar brands is testament to the work done in the background over the last couple of years and to the fact that the regulations are relevant to the manufacturers as well as proof of the growing appeal of endurance racing worldwide. The seven-round schedule is a natural evolution of the calendar we know well from the previous years that will provide the automakers involved with a stage to showcase their dream cars at a variety of world-class circuits and key global markets. The centenary edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be the focal point of the season and I’m immensely pleased that this has been taken into consideration when the Formula 1 calendar was approved by the World Motor Sport Council. This underlines the cooperation of the FIA as the governing body of world motor sport with the stakeholders of the world’s premier championships.

Richard Mille, FIA Endurance Commission President

Endurance fans and competitors have an outstanding season to look forward to. With seven races lined up, the FIA WEC has an extra round compared to recent seasons - a packed schedule - although caution is appropriate in these volatile times. We begin with three of the world’s most revered circuits, including the challenging Portimao, always a favourite with drivers. The centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 10-11 June will be the midsummer treat. What more could a world class car marker wish for than to raise the trophy marking 100 years of automotive racing history? Then we head to Monza, the temple of speed, and to Bahrain to crown the season champions. As we enter its eleventh season, the FIA WEC is as closely contended as ever.

Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest