Hyperpole Qualifying Format to be Introduced for Full Season

Photo: WEC

The ACO’s Hyperpole qualifying format for the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be introduced into the entire FIA World Endurance Championship season next year in a shakeup to the qualifying format.

Approved during Thursday’s FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting in Geneva, the “enhanced” qualifying format, which will features two sessions each for Hypercar and LMGT3, will replace the existing format of single 15-minute sessions for each class.

Beginning next year, both categories will have an initial 12-minute qualifying session followed by a 10-minute long Hyperpole for the top ten qualifiers that will decide the top end of the grid.

The two-stage Hyperpole format was first introduced at Le Mans in 2020, where the top six cars from each class advanced to a final session.

Also confirmed by the WMSC was the approval of the LMGT3 technical regulations, which will be based around the FIA’s existing GT3 technical platform and will focus on gentlemen drivers and private teams.

The class, which replaces GTE, will feature several WEC-specific adaptations such as luminescent number panels and leader lights.

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