The first major change is the number of races. This year’s World Endurance Championship will be a nine-round battle, rather than eight previously. Silverstone will stage the season-opener for the fourth time. Teams will be back on the track for the 6 hours of Spa Francorchamps on 2 May and the Le Mans 24 Hours on 18 and 19 June. The 6 Hours of Nürburgring will be back again on 3 September. Then comes the 6 Hours of Mexico City at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. A few days later, the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas will be hosting another 6-hour round. The customary end-of-season races will be held in October and November: the 6 Hours of Fuji on 16 October, the 6 Hours of Shanghai on 6 November and the 6 Hours of Bahrain on 19 November.

The second change is in the competitor line-up. Ford is back with two Ford GTs in the LM GTE Pro class. The American cars will be the first to defend their country’s flag in the class. Until now, American teams have raced in LM GTE Am – Krohn Racing in 2012 and 2013 and 8Star Motorsports in 2013 and 2014 – and LM P2, with Starworks Motorsport in 2012 and Extreme Speed Motorsports in 2015. There has never yet been an American team in WEC LM P1.

Difference number three is a new Ferrari! The new Ferrari 488 that was unveiled at Mugello in November will be fielded by AF Corse in the FIA World Endurance Championship. The lucky drivers are Davide Rigon, Sam Bird, James Calado and current GT champion Gianmaria Bruni. More new cars are expected in LM P1, the premier league of endurance racing. The Audi R18 has been completely reworked and Audi will be looking to lift the constructors’ trophy. No news yet from Porsche and Toyota but they are no doubt busy preparing their cars for both the WEC and Le Mans 24 Hours.

The fourth difference concerns the 24 Hours of Le Mans. There will be 58 cars on the grid this year. Le Mans was long a 55-car race and added the Garage 56 slot a few years ago. This is the first time the grid has been extended to 58 cars. Next year will be a 60-car race, when the new garages currently under construction will be ready for use.

Don’t miss a round of the 2016 World Endurance Championship and make sure you order your tickets for the highlight of the season, the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. General Enclosure and Grandstand tickets are on sale now!

Geoffroy Barre — Translated from French by Emma Paulay

Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), 24 HOURS CIRCUIT, LE MANS 24 HOURS, THURSDAY 11 JUNE 2015, QUALIFYING SESSIONS. The Ferrari 458 Italia will be replaced by the new Ferrari 488 at the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours.