The Formula 1 facility has renewed the agreement, originally for one year and valid for 2023, to maintain the Italian leg of the series for another four years, with the signing arriving precisely on the weekend of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari has committed to improving the infrastructure of the paddock area, including the construction of additional garages, as part of the agreement.
The increased capacity of the Imola pitlane will be necessary for next year’s race in April as the WEC plans to expand its starting grid to 40 cars.
This year the WEC moved from Monza to Imola because the venue of the Italian Grand Prix was affected by important works in the paddock.
The limited number of garages, one less than the 37 cars entered this year, had been considered an obstacle to Imola remaining in the series. The WEC underlined the importance of local government support for the implementation of the new agreement.
Mayor Marco Panieri defined the agreement between the WEC and the racetrack as “a fantastic opportunity for the city of Imola”.
“Thanks to this event we will be able to improve infrastructure, such as the pits and fan zone, making the experience for visitors and staff more enjoyable,” he said.
Fans at Imola
Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images
WEC 2025 features the same eight events in the same order as this year.
Pierre Fillon, president of WEC co-organizer the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, told Motorsport.com last month that there were effectively no plans to move to nine races “due to costs.”
Richard Mille, president of the FIA’s Endurance Commission, said the WEC is adopting the mentality of “if it ain’t broke, it ain’t fixed. This year’s eight events offer a great mix of established circuits,” he said.
“They provide the series with presence in the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, providing the perfect stage for the events of the golden era of endurance racing to unfold.”
The WEC’s return to Austin for the first time since 2017 in September of this year will be extended for at least a second season.
That always seemed likely after Roger Penske ruled out the series visiting its Indianapolis home in 2025 for scheduling reasons, as he said in March.
However, he aspires to bring the WEC to a facility he took over in 2020, a desire he first revealed in 2022.
WEC 2025 will kick off in Qatar at the end of February, rather than at the beginning of March like this year, because Ramadan falls earlier in 2025.
#83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Robert Kubica, Robert Shwartzman, Yifei Ye
Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images
The race will once again be 1812km, in homage to Qatar’s national day on 18 December, with a maximum duration of eight hours.
The Prologue pre-season test will take place a week before the race at the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is scheduled for June 14/15, with the pre-event test day the previous Sunday. Interlagos, Austin, Fuji and Bahrain once again make up the swing of the championship after Le Mans.
The calendar was ratified by the FIA World Automobile Council this week.
WEC | The 2025 calendar
February 28th 1812 Km of Qatar (QAT)
April 20th 6 Hours of Imola (ITA)
May 10th 6 Hours of Spa (BEL)
June 14-15 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA)
July 13th 6 Hours of Sao Paulo (BRA)
September 7 6 Hours of Austin (USA)
September 28th 6 Hours of Fuji (JPN)
November 8 Bahrain 8 Hours (BAH)
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