Silverstone Confirmed on Expanded 2027 WEC Schedule

Photo: Eric Le Galliot/MPS Agency

Silverstone will make its highly anticipated return to the FIA World Endurance Championship, having been confirmed as an extra ninth round for 2027.

The famed UK circuit, which last appeared on the WEC schedule in 2019 after having been a mainstay since the inaugural season in 2012, is scheduled for April 23-25 as the championship’s third round of the season.

While widely expected to feature on the calendar, ACO rules racing returned to the home of the Formula 1 British Grand Prix last year for an European Le Mans Series race (pictured above), which is again on the continental series’ calendar for September.

The 2027 season will provisionally kick off in Qatar for the ten-hour/1812km race on March 25-27.

Sportscar365 understands the race was originally set to occur on the same weekend as the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, which would have caused significant issues with manufacturers and drivers, but was moved one week back.

The pre-season Prologue, however, is currently scheduled for the Sunday and Monday following the Florida endurance classic, as was initially the case this year.

Qatar will be followed by the 6 Hours of Imola on April 9-11, prior to the new Silverstone event and the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps on May 13-15, all occurring prior to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which is confirmed for June 12-13.

The annual Le Mans test day, meanwhile, will occur one week earlier and is set to fall on the same weekend as the WeatherTech Championship race in Detroit.

The WEC will then again travel to Brazil for the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo, followed by the Lone Star Le Mans at Circuit of The Americas, 6 Hours of Fuji and provisionally close the season out with the 8 Hours of Bahrain.

“We are excited to be returning to Silverstone next season, and I would like to thank Stuart Pringle and the British Racing Drivers’ Club for making this comeback possible,” said WEC CEO Frédéric Lequien.

“Silverstone is a venue steeped in motorsport history and boasts a long legacy of top-flight endurance racing, including eight hugely successful FIA WEC events from 2012 to 2019.

“It is a circuit beloved by competitors, and from a driving and engineering point-of-view, it presents a tremendous challenge.

“Not only that, but British fans are famously enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the sport, and we are delighted that they will once again be able to enjoy the indescribable thrill of a World Championship round up close on home soil.”

Lequien said the final two rounds of this year during season is still provisionally Qatar (Oct. 22-24) and Bahrain (Nov. 5-7), although a decision will be made in the summer about going to an alternative plan.

Sportscar365 understands that events in Barcelona and Monza are being lined up in the case of the difficult geopolitical situation in the Middle East continuing.

2027 FIA World Endurance Championship Schedule:
March 21-22 — Prologue (Qatar)
March 25-27 — Qatar 1812km
April 9-11 —  Imola
April 23-25 —  Silverstone
May 13-15 — Spa-Francorchamps
June 6 — Le Mans Test Day
June 12-13 — 24 Hours of Le Mans
July 9-11 — Interlagos
Sept. 10-12 — Circuit of The Americas
Sept. 24-26 — Fuji Speedway
Nov. 4-6 — 8 Hours of Bahrain

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