WEC Finalizing 2014 Schedule

Photo: DPPI/WEC

The schedule for next year’s FIA World Endurance Championship is set to be released this month, according to series boss Gerard Neveu (pictured right, with Emerson Fittipaldi).

Speaking to Sportscar365 during last weekend’s round in Sao Paulo, Neveu confirmed the series is in the process of finalizing dates for the 2014 championship, which may or may not see an expansion to new circuits.

This year’s WEC calendar features eight events, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which has already been confirmed for June 14-15, 2014.

“When you want to develop, you have to first of all provide stability,” Neveu said. “Because if you change every year, it’s very difficult to do something strong. This is the idea so we are working on it.

“For sure, we have to be in a stronger position. So there is no reason to add many new dates. It should be a similar [schedule].”

It’s understood the WEC has been in negotiations with a number of venues, including Buddh International Circuit in India and Russia’s new Sochi Olympic Park circuit, which will see the debut of F1 next year. There have also been talks of a potential German round, in light of Porsche’s arrival into LMP1.

While Neveu wouldn’t rule out an additional round for 2014, he admitted it not being a priority.

The current eight-round calendar is likely to remain relatively unchanged, as the majority of the circuits are under three-year contracts that began in 2012.

Neveu said their deal with the Circuit of The Americas, which will host the next round of championship, runs through 2015.

According to Neveu, the 2014 schedule announcement could come during the COTA weekend, or potentially before, pending FIA approval.

“[Every circuit] has been a good place to organize an endurance event,” Neveu said of the current schedule. “After, we have to make sure that all of the parties are happy with the event. This is what we are doing.

“We’ve stayed very aware of the feedback from different parties and we are trying to find the best compromise.”

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