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Le Mans / ALMS
LE MANS: New WEC Qualifying Format, Revised Brazil Date For 2013
FIA World Motor Sport Council confirms new qualifying format for FIA World Endurance Championship, slight date change for Brazil round in 2013...
The FIA World Endurance Championship will have a new qualifying format for 2013. (Photo: John Dagys)
Following its meeting in Istanbul this week, the FIA World Motor Sport Council revealed various changes to the FIA World Endurance Championship for next year, including a new qualifying format aimed at spicing up the fight for pole position.
Under the new format, two drivers must establish two timed laps each, with the average of the four lap times being calculated to determine the starting grid in each of the four categories.
According to the FIA, the format has been changed in order to "make [qualifying] more attractive for spectators and media" and will go into effect beginning with the 2013 season-opener at Silverstone in April.
Additionally, next year's championship will do away with warmup sessions, except those specifically required by some events. Extra cost-saving measures will be introduced into LMP2 and GTE-Am, limiting the number of engines and tires per car.
The WMSC also approved a slight change to the 2013 calendar, with the Six Hours of Sao Paulo now scheduled to take place on Sunday, Sept. 1, instead of the originally confirmed Aug. 31 date.
“When we received this request from [race promoter] Emerson Fittipaldi it made sense to us to follow his advice," explained FIA WEC CEO Gerard Neveu. "Following a recommendation from the ACO, the Endurance Commission proposed the change of date to the World Motor Sport Council, which met in Istanbul today.
"Emerson knows how to promote an event in Brazil and if he thinks that by having the race on Sunday it will bring a bigger crowd to Interlagos then that is good for everybody. We had a great race this year and we’re sure the 2013 event will be even bigger.”
No other changes have been made to next year's calendar, although the Austin and Shanghai rounds remain to be confirmed events.
2013 FIA World Endurance Championship Calendar
April 14 - Six Hours of Silverstone (UK)
May 4 - Six Hours of Spa (Belgium)
June 22-23 - 24 Hours of Le Mans (France)
Sept. 1 - Six Hours of Sao Paulo (Brazil)
Sept. 22 - Six Hours of Austin (USA)* / **
Oct. 20 - Six Hours of Mt. Fuji (Japan)
Nov. 10 - Six Hours of Shanghai (China)**
Nov. 30 - Six Hours of Bahrain (Bahrain)
*Super Endurance Weekend
** To Be Confirmed
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
Under the new format, two drivers must establish two timed laps each, with the average of the four lap times being calculated to determine the starting grid in each of the four categories.
According to the FIA, the format has been changed in order to "make [qualifying] more attractive for spectators and media" and will go into effect beginning with the 2013 season-opener at Silverstone in April.
Additionally, next year's championship will do away with warmup sessions, except those specifically required by some events. Extra cost-saving measures will be introduced into LMP2 and GTE-Am, limiting the number of engines and tires per car.
The WMSC also approved a slight change to the 2013 calendar, with the Six Hours of Sao Paulo now scheduled to take place on Sunday, Sept. 1, instead of the originally confirmed Aug. 31 date.
“When we received this request from [race promoter] Emerson Fittipaldi it made sense to us to follow his advice," explained FIA WEC CEO Gerard Neveu. "Following a recommendation from the ACO, the Endurance Commission proposed the change of date to the World Motor Sport Council, which met in Istanbul today.
"Emerson knows how to promote an event in Brazil and if he thinks that by having the race on Sunday it will bring a bigger crowd to Interlagos then that is good for everybody. We had a great race this year and we’re sure the 2013 event will be even bigger.”
No other changes have been made to next year's calendar, although the Austin and Shanghai rounds remain to be confirmed events.
2013 FIA World Endurance Championship Calendar
April 14 - Six Hours of Silverstone (UK)
May 4 - Six Hours of Spa (Belgium)
June 22-23 - 24 Hours of Le Mans (France)
Sept. 1 - Six Hours of Sao Paulo (Brazil)
Sept. 22 - Six Hours of Austin (USA)* / **
Oct. 20 - Six Hours of Mt. Fuji (Japan)
Nov. 10 - Six Hours of Shanghai (China)**
Nov. 30 - Six Hours of Bahrain (Bahrain)
*Super Endurance Weekend
** To Be Confirmed
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
FIA WEC Six Hours of Spa
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