WEC 2024: a historic season on several fronts

Many records have been broken during this WEC season, which has now been around for twelve years. Never before have so many world-class manufacturers been represented across the entire grid, not even during the heydays of the highly popular GTE-Pro, LMP1, and Group C eras. And with this, the new golden age of endurance racing has lived up to its promise of great spectacle on the track.

The LMGT3: it works.

It must already be said that the new GT class has been a great success in succeeding the GTE. The end of factory competition and the advent of customer competition has killed two birds with one stone by reducing costs and maintaining the presence of gentlemen drivers on the grid.

Even better: this has allowed the arrival of five additional manufacturers, in addition to Porsche, Ferrari, Corvette, and Aston Martin, who were in GTE-Am until 2023. Lexus, Ford, McLaren, Lamborghini, and BMW have joined the party in LMGT3, all having the opportunity to play leading roles.

It is enough, however, to see the performance of the manufacturers in the eight victories to be won this year. Porsche has of course been above the rest, with four wins: No. 91 won twice, including Le Mans, and No. 92 prevailed in Losail and Sao Paulo. But we must also add to this the two consecutive victories of Ferrari, with No. 54 (in Fuji) and No. 55 (in Bahrain) from Vista AF Corse, as well as that of BMW in Imola (No. 31 of team WRT) and finally the success in Austin of Aston Martin No. 27 from Heart of Racing. There have therefore been six different winning teams during this season.

Four manufacturers have asserted themselves in LMGT3 and the variety on the podium is also exceptional. All brands have been represented on the podium this season, except Lexus. Its operating team, the French from Akkodis ASP, achieved their best result with the 7th place of N°78 at Le Mans.

Thirteen out of the 18 crews had the pleasure, at least once, of stepping onto one of the top three steps of the ranking. This incredible variety is a testament to the great success of this new category.

The Hypercar continues to increase in intensity

The balance is almost the same on the side of the premier category, which has done infinitely more than just regaining its former glory. The nine manufacturers have largely met expectations, even though the small Isotta Fraschini eventually withdrew during the season.

Never before has such a variety of winners, and even contenders for victory, been seen in WEC since its creation in 2012. The entire season has been an alternation of winners from one race to another. It took until the 6 Hours of Fuji for Porsche No. 6 to become the first team to win twice in the season, before Toyota No. 8 in Bahrain. But never has a car won two consecutive victories.

Ferrari has only experienced two successes since its return to the WEC last year: both times were at Le Mans, with No. 51 and then No. 50. This brought the number of winning brands this year to three, the first time since 2016 (Porsche, Audi, and Toyota).

On the podium, once again the variety is exceptional. Eleven crews have taken their place on the three steps, with a delightful distribution of six manufacturers. Only Lamborghini, Cadillac, and logically Isotta Fraschini have not succeeded.

Another interesting fact: it is the first time in WEC history that both the drivers’ and constructors’ titles are shared between two brands. Porsche takes the drivers’ title, with Kévin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor, and André Lotterer, while Toyota takes the constructors’.

Private individuals rebel

The top category also experienced a major first in the World Championship: a private team won a round of the WEC for the first time, ahead of and surpassing the official teams.

The Porsche N°12 of the Jota team hit the jackpot at the 6 Hours of Spa, albeit with the help of the red flag due to the crash of Cadillac N°2. Will Stevens and Callum Ilott had achieved this feat, in the absence of Frenchman Norman Nato. This private car had already become the first of the Hypercar era to step onto a podium, finishing 2nd in the 1,812 kilometers of Qatar.

Porsche N°99 from Proton had achieved great things in Spa, notably thanks to the ardor and boldness of Julien Andlauer. The Frenchman will also be an official Porsche driver next year, and it is more than deserved.

The definition of private sometimes remains blurred. When the Ferrari No. 83 won in Austin, it could be seen as the victory of an official car in broad terms. The only difference being that it is not red like the factory cars and that it is named AF Corse instead of Ferrari AF Corse. So be it…

Always more spectators

The success of the WEC is such that it is starting to attract increasingly large crowds. The 24 Hours of Le Mans saw a new attendance record: 325,000 in 2023, almost 330,000 this year, for an even crazier edition than the previous one.

Le Mans is obviously the must-attend event this season, but the demonstration of this growing momentum was seen at Spa: 88,000 spectators attended the 6 Hours of the Belgian Ardennes, compared to 72,000 in 2023. It is certainly not the same total as in F1, but it is a sign that the future looks bright.

The basics of the future

Finally, when one thinks about the coming years, there is reason to salivate, as some disciplines walk a tightrope and try to tinker. The WEC naturally attracts the attention of the biggest brands and, above all, the greatest drivers.

What a joy it has been for many to see Jenson Button return, even if he was discreet in the Porsche Jota N°38, to witness Valentino Rossi’s triumphant arrival…

Even crazier: the WEC grid will evolve again, provided that all the manufacturers currently present remain for several more years. Aston Martin will arrive with the Valkyrie LMH next year, with its melodious V12; Hyundai will be involved through its Genesis branch, McLaren is waiting for 2027, Mercedes rumors have not subsided, and Acura (Honda) is also considering joining. Who knows who else might come to LMGT3 to fill the grid.

This hype makes the WEC the most competitive motor racing championship at the moment and we are indeed experiencing a new golden age of endurance. If 2025 is even better than 2024, it will be a dream come true for racing enthusiasts.