Report: FIA WEC Considering Montreal Round for 2015

Photo: John Dagys

The FIA World Endurance Championship could be headed to Montreal next year, potentially as a second round in North America, it has been revealed.

According to a report in Le Journal de Montreal, talks are underway to host a round of the globe-trotting sports car championship in Canada, with all signs pointing towards Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the only FIA Grade 1 circuit in the country.

Circuit promoter François Dumontier declined comment on this matter, while FIA WEC CEO Gerard Neveu told reporters in March that he was open to additional rounds next year, including exploring options in North America.

“It’s a question of opportunity,” Neveu said. “We don’t want to make one more date just to do one more date. We have to do one more date if there is a very good opportunity.

“It means a good race track, good market, good fan base, good financial interest, good media interest and good interest for the manufacturers.”

Home to the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix, the 2.709-mile circuit on the Île Notre-Dame had played host to a round of the FIA World Sports Car Championship, the precursor to the FIA WEC, in 1990.

More recently, the NASCAR Nationwide Series, GRAND-AM and CART/IndyCar have all held events there, with ongoing efforts having been made by the city to secure a second event alongside F1 since NASCAR’s exit in 2012.

It’s believed the possible Montreal FIA WEC race could take place prior to series’ U.S. round at Circuit of The Americas in mid-September.

The series’ contract with COTA, however, expires at the end of this year, leaving an option open should the event, which struggled with attendance numbers, not see an improvement in 2014.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John