The 2025 season of the World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) kicked off with the Prologue, held at the Lusail circuit in Qatar. During these two days of testing, all teams were able to fine-tune their setups before the first race, the 1812 km of Qatar, scheduled for February 28.
BMW M Team WRT already hits hard
If several manufacturers have stood out, it is ultimately BMW M Team WRT that set the best overall time. Robin Frijns, at the wheel of the BMW M Hybrid V8 #20, achieved the fastest lap in 1’38”971, beating the benchmark set during the 2024 qualifiers. A strong message sent to the competition, as BMW is only in its second season in Hypercar.
Cadillac Hertz Team Jota, leader of the first day with Sébastien Bourdais, almost managed to clinch victory, but a late-session error left the door open for BMW. Ferrari AF Corse completes the top 3, while Toyota and Alpine, strong in race pace, already seem ready to battle.
Strong trends in Hypercar
Besides the pure performance, this Prologue highlighted some significant trends. Toyota Gazoo Racing was the most diligent team on track, accumulating 402 laps with its two GR010 Hybrids. Ferrari, with its three 499Ps, was the manufacturer that covered the most kilometers, surpassing the 1070-lap mark.
On the Porsche Penske Motorsport side, testing has been more laborious. An engine issue immobilized the #5 963 for a significant part of the second day, depriving the team of valuable track time. Alpine, despite a low-key testing program, seems to have made progress compared to 2024.
LMGT3: Ferrari in the Lead, Minimal Gaps
The LMGT3 category, which now replaces GTE, experienced a very competitive Prologue. Ferrari stood out with a one-two finish from Vista AF Corse, ahead of the Aston Martin Vantage and the Corvette Z06 GT3.R. McLaren and Porsche remain in the hunt, while Lexus and Ford still have work to do to reach the top. With tight gaps, this category is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in the field.
WEC 2025: New Regulations for a New Season
On October 18, 2024, the sporting regulations for the 2025 season were published. A 91-page document that brings significant changes which will take effect starting from the first race this weekend.
Qualifications: a refined format
The system introduced in 2024 is renewed, with a first qualifying session followed by an Hyperpole for the top 10. From now on, the qualifications and the Hyperpole for LMGT3 will precede those of the Hypercars. Another novelty: in LMGT3, it will now be the Silver drivers who will compete in the Hyperpole, while the Bronze drivers will remain at the wheel only for the first qualifying session.
New color code for the LMGT3
To improve visibility on the track, the GT category is abandoning orange in favor of Pantone 355C green, a shade already used in GTE Pro until 2022.
A minimum of two Hypercar vehicles must be entered.
Starting this year, any manufacturer wishing to compete in Hypercar must enter at least two cars to be eligible for the championship. A maximum quota will be set by the Selection Committee, and any additional car will be entered in the Hypercar World Teams’ Cup. This new rule has notably led to Lamborghini’s withdrawal, while Aston Martin is entering with its non-hybrid Valkyrie.
Embedded LED display
Starting in 2025, LED display boards will replace traditional Leader Lights. These screens will show the race position and pit stop duration in real-time. In case of a malfunction, penalties may be applied.
Driving time and tire allocation
Any driver who has driven less than 45 minutes will not score championship points, compared to 1 hour previously. Regarding the tires, those reserved for the Hyperpole will now be separate from the qualification allocation and will no longer necessarily be the softest in the range.
The Balance of Performance (BoP) has been adjusted to enhance fairness: Ferrari reduces its 499P by 16 kg with a power of 501 kW, while Toyota increases its weight to 1065 kg for a power of 503 kW.
In LMGT3, Mercedes teams up with Iron Lynx, and the battle between Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin, and Corvette promises to be particularly close.
A calendar of eight iconic races
The 2025 season revolves around eight races around the world:
1812 km from Qatar – February 28
6 Hours of Imola – April 20
6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps – May 10
24 Hours of Le Mans – June 14 and 15
6 Hours of São Paulo – July 13
**Lone Star Le Mans** – September 7
6 Hours of Fuji – September 28
8 Hours of Bahrain – November 8
