FIA Extends ACO Partnership to Develop World Endurance Championship

Leading motorsport group FIA has signed a collaboration agreement with ACO for the World Endurance Championship (WEC) for another three years.

Having organised the Le Mans 24 Hours since 1923, the ACO has been the promoter of the WEC since its launch in 2012. During this year’s Le Mans weekend it was announced that the FIA and ACO had agreed to extend its agreement to work together in the organising of the WEC for the next three seasons up to and including 2017. 

Pierre Fillon, president of the ACO, said the new agreement would help to expand the WEC even further as a result of the stability. 

“I am delighted with the extension of this agreement,” Fillon said. “In partnership with the FIA, we have set up a World Endurance Championship based on the Spirit of Le Mans which has been key to the success of the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 1923. This competition, which offers enthusiasts the excitement of year-round worldwide endurance races has been a huge success both with spectators and among the biggest organizations in the automotive industry. 

“The extension of this agreement is not only proof of the quality of the joint work in the past three years, but also guarantees the sustainability of the Championship, and is conducive to growing development while ensuring worldwide exposure to all competitors and partners.” 

FIA president Jean Todt said the recently-announced arrival of Nissan in LMP1 highlights just how strong the series is becoming. 

“I welcome this signing, which demonstrates the excellent cooperation established between the ACO and the FIA for 3 years,” Todt said. “The WEC has been able to build on a solid foundation and continues its development. The seasons to come promise to be exciting, especially the arrival of Nissan in LMP1. This success confirms the interest of constructors in the value of technological innovation in this discipline to which I feel a great bond.” 

And Gérard Neveu, CEO of the FIA World Endurance Championship, said he only sees the championship growing further over the term of the agreement. 

“The FIA World Endurance Championship has made great progress in three years,” Neveu said. “With this agreement between the ACO and FIA, it will allow us to continue to build on the success we have had since 2012. Continuity and visibility are two important factors that will help us continue to develop the World Championship. 

“This is great news for the WEC paddock. Next year, Nissan will join Audi, Porsche and Toyota in LMP1, demonstrating the attractiveness of endurance racing to big manufacturers in the development of new technologies and to help them in the markets we visit in the World Endurance Championship. The FIA WEC will continue to grow and progress in 2015 and beyond.”