WEC Hints 42-Car Grid Possible Amid Manufacturer Influx

The FIA World Endurance Championship has hinted for the first time that the total size of the grid could reach 42 cars in the coming years to accommodate the coming influx of new manufacturers in the Hypercar class.

WEC CEO Frederic Lequien made the remark ahead of this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans when asked by reporters how the championship plans to handle grid numbers amid the forthcoming arrival of Genesis, McLaren and Ford in the top division.

Currently, the championship has 36 full-time entrants, split evenly between Hypercar and LMGT3, a decrease of one car since last season.

Previously, Lequien had stated that the WEC would be capable of accommodating 40 cars as early as the current season, but the withdrawal of Lamborghini and Isotta Fraschini meant that this year’s entry list fell four cars short of that figure.

Imola built additional pit garages as part of its extended contract to remain on the WEC calendar, announced last year, while the Circuit of The Americas was another circuit deemed to be a bottleneck in terms of garage space.

The Texas venue only has 34 pit garages, meaning at last year’s race some LMGT3 cars were assigned three-quarters of a garage to get around the issue.

“We worked hand in hand with Imola,” said Lequien when asked by Sportscar365 about the current situation with garage limitations. “We said we needed more garages and they were absolutely great. They built two additional garages.

“But anyway, we will never go over 42 cars. This is the maximum. At the moment we will try to stay with 40 cars.”

Genesis Magma Racing joining the Hypercar field next year is set to take the top class to 20 cars, assuming that both current privateer entries, the No. 83 AF Corse Ferrari and the No. 99 Proton Competition Porsche, stay in the championship.

That number could grow as high as 24 cars when McLaren and Ford’s LMDh programs come on stream in 2027 if all existing manufacturers stay.

Should the grid size remain capped at 40 cars, it would imply the loss of the two privateer Hypercars, or a trimming down of the LMGT3 grid to 16 cars. However, an expansion to 42 cars would mean neither of these things becomes necessary.

Lequien highlighted the importance of a healthy LMGT3 class, describing having a mix of GTs and prototypes on the grid as key to the WEC’s “DNA”, while also underlining the series’ commitment to keeping 15 slots open to LMP2 cars at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

An increase in full-season WEC entries to 42 cars, plus the 15 LMP2s, would leave space for only five additional entries in either Hypercar or LMGT3 should the number of cars at the Circuit de la Sarthe remain fixed at 62.

Nine-Race WEC Calendar Still Possible For 2027

Lequien also said that the possibility of expanding the WEC calendar to a ninth race for the 2027 season remains open when speaking to reporters.

The series revealed a 2026 schedule almost identical to this year’s, featuring the same roster of eight venues for a third season in a row to keep budgets under control.

But Lequien believes the time has come to open a dialogue with the manufacturers about the possibility of upping the number of races to meet growing fan demand.

“Last year, I said I think we need to stay stable [with the calendar], and that 2027 could be a good year to think about extending the calendar,” he said.

“In 2026 we are stable, and in 2027, I think with the grid we have, and the expectation from the fans, it is worth having the discussion with the OEMs about maybe expanding the calendar.”

Silverstone has made no secret of its desire to get back on the WEC schedule should an extra race be added to the calendar, and is considered a leading contender to host a round of the series for the first time since 2019 in such a scenario.

WEC last hosted nine races in a single season in 2017 before cutting back on the number of races for the 2018/19 ‘superseason.’