The 2019–20 FIA World Endurance Championship was the eighth season of the FIA World Endurance Championship , an auto racing series co-organised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO). The series is open to Le Mans Prototypes and grand tourer -style racing cars divided into four categories. World Championship titles were awarded for LMP drivers, LMP1 teams, GTE drivers and GTE manufacturers. With the new winter scheduling format, the series began at Silverstone Circuit in September 2019 and ended with the 8 Hours of Bahrain in November 2020.
Schedule [ ]
The FIA and ACO announced a provisional schedule during the 2018 6 Hours of Silverstone which feature eight events over ten months. All events from the previous season are carried over, as well as the return of Bahrain which was not on the 2018–2019 calendar, and Interlagos which last held a WEC event in 2014 . However, the length of the majority of events has been altered, moving away from the traditional six-hour format used in previous seasons. Bahrain in an eight-hour race and Silverstone and Shanghai are shortened to four-hour events.[1]
After Formula 1 announced their provisional 2019 schedule, the WEC moved the Fuji round forward one week to 6 October to avoid a conflict with the Japanese GP . This also avoids a date conflict with the scheduled date for the IMSA season finale, Petit Le Mans . Moving the Fuji round forward also allowed the Shanghai round to be moved forward one week to 10 November, which avoids a conflict with the traditional date for the Macau GP .[2] On 2 December 2019, it was announced that due to the failure of the promoter for 6 Hours of São Paulo to fulfill its contractual obligations to the championship, the round would be canceled, and instead replaced by the 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas . The FIA also moved the date back three weeks to avoid a clashing with Super Bowl LIV and the Mexico City ePrix .[3]
The 1000 Miles of Sebring was scheduled for 20 March 2020, but was cancelled due to a travel ban to the U.S. from mainland Europe in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] The 24 Hours of Le Mans was postponed to September due to the coronavirus.[5] The 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps was postponed on 16 March.[6] On 3 April 2020, a new revised calendar for the 2019–20 season was released, with the Spa race moved to 15 August and another 8 Hours of Bahrain event, on 21 November 2020, replacing the cancelled 1000 Miles of Sebring.[7] The final round at Bahrain in November was moved up a week as a result of Formula One scheduling a double header event at that venue for the end of the month.[8]
Round
Race
Circuit
Location
Date
1
4 Hours of Silverstone
Silverstone Circuit
Silverstone, United Kingdom
1 September 2019
2
6 Hours of Fuji
Fuji Speedway
Oyama, Japan
6 October 2019
3
4 Hours of Shanghai
Shanghai International Circuit
Shanghai, China
10 November 2019
4
8 Hours of Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Sakhir, Bahrain
14 December 2019
5
Lone Star Le Mans
Circuit of the Americas
Austin, Texas, United States
23 February 2020
6
6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Spa, Belgium
15 August 2020
7
24 Hours of Le Mans
Circuit de la Sarthe
Le Mans , France
19–20 September 2020
8
8 Hours of Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Sakhir, Bahrain
14 November 2020
Cancelled Races[3] [4]
Race
Circuit
Location
Original Date
6 Hours of São Paulo
Interlagos Circuit
São Paulo, Brazil
1 February 2020
1000 Miles of Sebring
Sebring International Raceway
Sebring, Florida, United States
20 March 2020
Teams and drivers [ ]
LMP1 [ ]
Note* The #3 Rebellion R13 entry only appeared at the first and seventh rounds of the season and was not classified as a full season entry not receiving points in the World Endurance LMP Drivers & World Endurance LMP1 Championship standings.
Note* The #4 ByKolles ENSO CLM P1/01 entry only appeared at the sixth and seventh rounds of the season and was not classified as a full season entry not receiving points in the World Endurance LMP Drivers & World Endurance LMP1 Championship standings.
LMP2 [ ]
In accordance with the Le Mans Prototype LMP2 regulations all cars use the Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 engine.
LMGTE Pro [ ]
LMGTE Am [ ]
Results and standings [ ]
Race results [ ]
The highest finishing competitor entered in the World Endurance Championship is listed below. Invitational entries may have finished ahead of WEC competitors in individual races.
Drivers' championships [ ]
Four titles are offered to drivers, two with world championship status. The LMP World Endurance Drivers' Championship is reserved for LMP1 and LMP2 drivers while the GTE World Endurance Drivers' Championship is available for drivers in the LMGTE categories. FIA Endurance Trophies are awarded in LMP2 and in LMGTE Am.
Entries were required to complete the timed race as well as to complete 70% of the overall winning car's race distance in order to earn championship points. A single bonus point was awarded to the team and all drivers of the pole position car for each category in qualifying. Furthermore, a race must complete two laps under green flag conditions in order for championship points to be awarded.
Points systems
Duration
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
Other
Pole
4–6 Hours
25
18
15
12
10
8
6
4
2
1
0.5
1
8 Hours
38
27
23
18
15
12
9
6
3
2
1
1
24 Hours
50
36
30
24
20
16
12
8
4
2
1
1
World Endurance LMP Drivers' Championship [ ]
Colour
Result
Gold
Winner
Silver
Second place
Bronze
Third place
Green
Points finish
Blue
Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple
Retired (Ret)
Red
Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black
Disqualified (DSQ)
White
Did not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank
Did not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)
Bold - Pole position
World Endurance GTE Drivers' Championship [ ]
Endurance Trophy for LMP2 Drivers [ ]
Endurance Trophy for GTE Am Drivers [ ]
Manufacturers' and teams' championships [ ]
A world championship is awarded for LMGTE manufacturers and for LMP1 teams. FIA Endurance Trophies are awarded for LMP2 and LMGTE Am teams.
World Endurance LMP1 Championship [ ]
Points are awarded only for the highest finishing competitor from each team.
World Endurance GTE Manufacturers' Championship [ ]
The two highest finishing competitors from each manufacturer are awarded points.
Endurance Trophy for LMP2 Teams [ ]
Endurance Trophy for GTE Am Teams [ ]
References [ ]
↑ "2019-2020 WEC Provisional Calendar Revealed" . FIA World Endurance Championship . 17 August 2018. https://www.fiawec.com/en/news/2019-2020-wec-provisional-calendar-revealed/6053 .
↑ Kilshaw, Jake (20 September 2018). "2019-20 Fuji, Shanghai Dates Changed; Clashes Avoided" . sportscar365.com/John Dagys Media, LLC. https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/2019-20-fuji-shanghai-dates-changed-clashes-avoided/ .
↑ 3.0 3.1 "COTA Back on WEC calendar, Sao Paulo 6 Hours canceled" (in en). 2 December 2019. https://racer.com/2019/12/02/cota-back-on-wec-calendar-sao-paulo-6-hours-canceled/ .
↑ 4.0 4.1 "WEC Cancels Sebring Race (Updated)" . Marshall Pruett (Dailysportscar.com). 12 March 2020. http://www.dailysportscar.com/2020/03/12/wec-set-to-cancel-sebring-trip.html .
↑ "Le Mans 24 Hours postponed until September due to coronavirus" . Motorsport Network . 18 March 2020. https://www.motorsport.com/lemans/news/le-mans-24-hours-postponed-september/4770517/ .
↑ "WEC postpones Spa" . 16 March 2020. https://racer.com/2020/03/16/wec-postpones-spa/ .
↑ Dagys, John (3 April 2020). "Bahrain as Season Finale in Revised 2019-20 Schedule" . Sportscar365. https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/bahrain-as-season-finale-in-revised-2019-20-schedule/ .
↑ "WEC moves Bahrain date, creates Sebring 12h clash" . Motorsport Network . 25 August 2020. https://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/bahrain-date-change-sebring-clash/4862935/?ic_source=home-page-widget&ic_medium=widget&ic_campaign=widget-6 .
↑ 9.0 9.1 Dagys, John (13 June 2019). "Rebellion Confirms 2019-20 WEC Return" . Sportscar365. https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/rebellion-confirms-2019-20-wec-return/ .
↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Kilbey, Stephen (9 August 2019). "Nato Completes Rebellion's LMP1 Driver Crew" . DailySportscar. http://www.dailysportscar.com/2019/08/09/nato-completes-rebellions-lmp1-driver-crew.html .
↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 Lloyd, Daniel (13 August 2019). "LNT Announces Ginetta LMP1 Driver Lineups for Silverstone" . Sportscar365. https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/lnt-announces-ginetta-lmp1-driver-lineups/ .
↑ Thukral, Rachit (17 September 2019). "Ghiotto joins Ginetta for Fuji WEC debut" . Motorsport Network . https://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/ghiotto-joins-ginetta-for-fuji-wec-debut/4542823/ .
↑ Lloyd, Daniel (27 August 2019). "Jarvis to Make LMP1 Return as Late Sub for LNT's Dyson" . Sportscar365. https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/jarvis-to-make-lmp1-return-as-late-sub-for-lnts-dyson/ .
↑ "Dyson Joins Team LNT For Bahrain" . dailysportscar. 26 November 2019. http://www.dailysportscar.com/2019/11/26/dyson-joins-team-lnt-for-bahrain.html .
↑ Dagys, John (10 July 2019). "United Autosports in Oreca Switch for WEC Program" . sportscar365 (John Dagys Media). https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/united-autosports-in-oreca-switch-for-wec-program/ .
↑ 16.0 16.1 Kilshaw, Jake (9 January 2019). "United Autosports Confirms 2019-20 WEC Entry" . sportscar365 (John Dagys Media). https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/united-autosports-confirms-2019-20-wec-entry/ .
↑ Kilshaw, Jake (4 March 2019). "Di Resta Completes United Lineup for Le Mans, WEC" . sportscar365 (John Dagys Media). https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/di-resta-completes-united-lineup-for-le-mans-wec/ .
↑ Kilshaw, Jake (9 August 2019). "Jarvis Replaces Di Resta for 6H Fuji" . sportscar365 (John Dagys Media). https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/jarvis-replaces-di-resta-for-6h-fuji/ .
↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Lloyd, Daniel (14 May 2019). "Racing Team Nederland Switches to Oreca for 2019-20" . sportscar365 (John Dagys Media). https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/racing-team-nederland-switches-to-oreca-for-2019-20/ .
↑ Kilbey, Stephen (11 June 2019). "Van Uitert Joins RTN For Select WEC Rounds" . DailySportsCar. http://www.dailysportscar.com/2019/07/11/van-uitert-joins-rtn-for-select-wec-rounds.html .
↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Lloyd, Daniel (17 July 2019). "Super GT Points Leader Yamashita's Debut Confirmed" . sportscar365 (John Dagys Media). https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/super-gt-points-leader-yamashitas-wec-debut-confirmed/ .
↑ 22.0 22.1 Dagys, John (14 June 2019). "Laurent Confirmed at Signatech Alpine Elf for 2019-20" . Sportscar365. https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/laurent-confirmed-at-signatech-alpine-for-2019-20/ .
↑ Lloyd, Daniel (9 July 2019). "Ragues Reunited with Signatech Alpine" . Sportscar365. https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/ragues-reunited-with-signatech-alpine-for-2019-20-season/ .
↑ Dagys, John (23 August 2019). "Da Costa to Replace Maldonado in Jota Entry" . sportscar365 (John Dagys Media). https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/da-costa-to-replace-maldonado-in-jota-entry/ .
↑ 25.0 25.1 Klien, Jamie (30 May 2019). "Davidson, Maldonado switch to JOTA for 2019/20 WEC" . Motorsport Network . https://us.motorsport.com/wec/news/davidson-maldonado-jota-oreca-gonzalez/4414233/ .
↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 "Who's new for WEC Season 8? Part 3" . FIA World Endurance Championship . 15 July 2019. https://www.fiawec.com/en/news/whos-new-for-wec-season-8-part-3/6418 .
↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 Kilshaw, Jake (24 January 2019). "Villorba Corse Becomes Cetilar Racing, Set for 2019-20 Entry" . sportscar365 (John Dagys Media). https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/villorba-corse-becomes-cetilar-racing-set-for-2019-20-entry/ .
↑ Kilshaw, Jake (13 August 2019). "Molina Replaces Bird in AF Corse GTE-Pro Roster" . Sportscar365. https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/molina-replaces-bird-in-af-corse-gte-pro-roster/ .
↑ 29.0 29.1 Kilbey, Stephen (8 January 2020). "Ticknell & Westbrook Join Aston Martin For Le Mans" . Dailysportscar. http://www.dailysportscar.com/2020/01/08/tincknell-westbrook-join-aston-martin-for-le-mans.html .
↑ 30.0 30.1 Thukral, Rachit (11 November 2020). "Alex Lynn to miss Bahrain WEC after positive COVID test" . motorsport.com (Motorsport Network). https://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/lynn-covid-positive-bahrain-aston/4907291/ .
↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 Goodwin, Graham (4 July 2019). "AF Corse Confirms 2019/20 GTE AM WEC Lineups" . dailysportscar.com (Dailysportscar). http://www.dailysportscar.com/2019/07/04/af-corse-confirms-2019-20-gte-am-wec-lineups.html .
↑ 32.0 32.1 Kilshaw, Jake (11 June 2019). "Perrodo Confirms GTE-Am Return With AF Corse" . Sportscar365. https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/perrodo-confirms-gte-am-return/ .
↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 Lloyd, Daniel (17 July 2019). "Project 1 Set to Shuffle GTE-Am Title-Winning Lineup" . Sportscar365. https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/project-1-shuffles-its-gte-am-title-winning-lineup/ .
↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 Dagys, John (7 August 2019). "Keating Confirms WEC Program With Team Project 1" . Sportscar365. https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/keating-confirms-wec-program-with-project-1/ .
↑ Lloyd, Daniel (10 October 2019). "Porsche Cup Driver Ten Voorde Joins Project 1 for Shanghai" . Sportscar365. https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/porsche-cup-driver-ten-voorde-joins-project-1-for-shanghai/ .
↑ Lloyd, Daniel (1 April 2019). "MR Racing Set for 2019-20 GTE-Am Return" . Sportscar365. https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/mr-racing-to-return-for-second-season-with-ferrari/ .
↑ 37.0 37.1 Lloyd, Daniel (22 May 2019). "TF Sport Set for GTE-Am Return with New Vantage" . Sportscar365. https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/tf-sport-set-for-gte-am-return-with-new-vantage/ .
↑ Lloyd, Daniel (2 June 2019). "Dalla Lana Set for 2019-20 Program with New Aston Vantage" . Sportscar365. https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/dalla-lana-set-for-2019-20-program-with-new-aston-vantage/ .
↑ 39.0 39.1 Kilshaw, Jake (13 August 2019). "Turner, Gunn Join Dalla Lana in New Aston GTE-Am Lineup" . Sportscar365. https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/turner-gunn-join-dalla-lana-in-new-aston-gte-am-lineup/ .
↑ Lloyd, Daniel (7 July 2020). "Farfus Joins Aston Martin GTE-Am Squad for Rest of Season" . Sportscar365. https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/farfus-joins-aston-martin-gte-am-squad-for-rest-of-season/ .
External links [ ]