The achievements of the 2019-20 FIA World Endurance Championship winners were celebrated at a virtual prize-giving ceremony. “2020 has been an unprecedented year and it’s remarkable to be here and to be able to honour our champions,” said FIA President Jean Todt. “Unfortunately, they cannot be with us in person tonight, but the most important thing is that, through creativity and resourcefulness, we have been able to organise championships – and we have champions to celebrate. I would like to pay credit to all those who made it possible.”

A perfect illustration of the unusual and unpredictable nature of the 2020 season was, of course, the fact that the emblematic 24 Hours of Le Mans, the flagship race of the FIA WEC calendar, was held in September. Like many other events this year, the race was held behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2019-20 FIA WEC season comprised eight rounds. The trio of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and José María López took the drivers’ championship while securing the LMP1 manufacturers’ title for Toyota Gazoo Racing. “It has been a long season. With what’s been going on this year, it was really rewarding to finally wrap up the championship,” Conway said. “I’m looking forward to next year and the new Hypercar era.”

The Danish duo of Marco Sørensen and Nicki Thiim took the GT drivers’ crown with Aston Martin Racing the winning manufacturer.

FIA WEC season 9 will begin on 13-14 March 2021 with pre-season testing at Sebring (USA). The opening round will be the 1000 Miles of Sebring on 19 March 2021. The full provisional calendar can be consulted on the official championship website. 

A video of the FIA World Endurance Championship season was broadcast during the prize-giving ceremony: