FIM Endurance World Championship

The Endurance World Championship (FIM EWC) is the premier worldwide endurance championship in motorcycle road racing. The championship season consists of a series of endurance races (with a duration of six, eight, twelve or twenty-four hours) held on permanent racing facilities. The results of each race are combined to determine three World Championships – riders, teams and manufacturers.

FIM Endurance World Championship
CategoryMotorcycle racing
RegionInternational
Inaugural season1960
ConstructorsSuzuki, Yamaha, BMW, Honda, Kawasaki
Tyre suppliersDunlop, Pirelli, Bridgestone
Riders' championItaly Niccolò Canepa
Germany Marvin Fritz
Czech Republic Karel Hanika
Makes' championJapan Yamaha
Teams' championAustria YART Yamaha
Official websitefimewc.com
Current season

Until 2016, the championship was held on a yearly basis, but in order to take advantage of the winter break in MotoGP and WorldSBK season, since September 2016 it runs from September to July, with the European races held in September, and then spring and summer of the next year.[1] Scheduling arrangements for the 2020 and 2021 COVID-19 years were different.

History

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The long-distance races appeared almost at the same time of the invention of the internal combustion engine at the end of the 19th century, with races being held between major cities such as Paris-Rouen in 1894, Paris-Bordeaux, Paris-Madrid and others. In those years cars and motos raced together, competing for speed (fastest time) or regularity (achieving a certain objective time). These races on open roads were very dangerous, and the successive fatal tragedies (such as 1903 Paris-Madrid) move the race to roads closed to normal traffic (before the creation of real racing circuits) led to the separation of cars and motos, and the long-distance races turning into rallies.

The Bol d'Or (most famous and prestigious Endurance race) was held for the first time in 1922 on the circuit of Vaujours, near Paris (a beaten-earth road circuit used since 1888 for 24-hour competitions for bicycles). Other endurance races were created after World War II, such as 24 Hour Race in Warsage (Belgium) in 1951, the 500 Miles of Thruxton in 1955, the 24 Hours of Montjuich in Barcelona in 1957, and the 24 hours of Monza (Italy) in 1959.. At the beginning, most races were held over 24 Hours, but soon shorter races were introduced, defined in terms either of distance (500 Miles, 1000 Miles, and much later even 200 Miles) or of time (12 Hours, 8 Hours or 6 Hours).[2]

The series was founded in 1960 as the FIM Endurance Cup.[3] Initially it was made up of four races: Thruxton 500, 24 hours of Montjuïc, 24 hours of Warsage and the Bol d'Or.[3]

The Bol d'Or was not held between 1961 and 1968, while the 1000 km of Paris was held twice on the circuit of Montlhéry. In the first decade, the FIM EC races were held essentially in Great Britain, Italy and Spain – the three countries with more riders

In 1976 the FIM Endurance Cup became the European Championship and in 1980 a World Championship. During the 1980s the Endurance World Championship calendar numbered up to ten events. The championship's popularity gradually declined and the calendar was gradually reduced to just the four so-called "classics": 24 Hours of Le Mans, 24 Hours of Liège (held in Spa-Francorchamps), 8 Hours Of Suzuka, and the Bol d'Or (held mostly on Paul Ricard or Magny-Cours).

In 1989 and 1990 the Championship went back to a World Cup status, as the number of events required by the FIM Sporting Code was not reached.

The 4 events championship (with 24 Hours of Liège being replaced by other races) in the same year was maintained until 2016. In 2015 FIM and the pan-European television sports network, Eurosport signed a deal for the promotion and coverage of the competition. With this, the organization re-ordered the events, in order to the new championship starting in September and finishing in July, with the European races being held during the winter avoiding the MotoGP and Superbikes schedules.

Races

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Race Circuit
Bol d'Or   Circuit Paul Ricard
Sepang 8 Hours   Sepang International Circuit
24 Heures du Mans Moto   Le Mans
8 Hours of Slovakia Ring   Slovakia Ring
8 Hours of Oschersleben   Oschersleben
12 Hours of Estoril   Estoril
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Suzuka 8 Hours   Suzuka
8 Hours of Spa EWC Motos   Spa-Francorchamps

World champions

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[4] [5]

1980–1988, 1991–present World Championship
1989–1990 World Cup
Year Winning riders Winning bike 2nd place riders 2nd place bike 3rd place riders 3rd place bike
1980   Marc Fontan
  Hervé Moineau
Honda   Christian Huguet Kawasaki   Helmut Dähne Honda
1981   Jean Lafond
  Raymond Roche
Kawasaki   Christian Huguet Kawasaki   Jean-Claude Chemarin Kawasaki
1982   Jean-Claude Chemarin
  Jacques Cornu
Kawasaki   Hervé Guilleux
  Jean Lafond
Kawasaki   Johan van der Wal Honda
1983   Richard Hubin
  Hervé Moineau
Suzuki GS series   Patrick Igoa
  Jean Lafond
Kawasaki   Jacques Cornu Kawasaki
1984   Gerard Coudray
  Patrick Igoa
Honda RVF750   Guy Bertin
  Dominique Sarron
Honda   Patrick de Radigues
  Jean-Pierre Oudin
Suzuki
1985   Gerard Coudray
  Patrick Igoa
Honda RVF750   Jean-Pierre Oudin Suzuki   Patrick de Radigues Suzuki
1986   Patrick Igoa Honda RVF750   Alex Vieira Honda   Gérard Coudray Honda
1987   Hervé Moineau
  Bruno Le Bihan
Suzuki   Johan van Vaerenbergh Kawasaki   Eric de Donker Kawasaki
1988   Hervé Moineau
  Thierry Crine
Suzuki   Alex Vieira
  Christophe Boubehin
Honda   Bruno le Bihan Suzuki
1989   Alex Vieira Honda RVF750   Roger Burnett Honda   Jean-Michel Mattioli Honda
1990   Alex Vieira Honda   Jean-Michel Mattioli
  Stéphane Mertens
Honda   Miguel Duhamel Suzuki
1991   Alex Vieira Kawasaki ZXR-7   Jean-Louis Battistini Kawasaki   Rachel Nicotte
  Pierre Monneret
Yamaha
1992   Terry Rymer
  Carl Fogarty
Kawasaki ZXR-7   Michel Graziano Suzuki   Jéhan d'Orgeix Kawasaki
1993   Doug Toland Kawasaki ZXR-7   Brian Morrison
  Wilfried Veille
Kawasaki   Simon Buckmaster
  Steve Manley
Kawasaki
1994   Adrien Morillas Kawasaki ZXR-7   Bruno Bonhuil
  Philippe Monneret
  Juan-Éric Gomez
Suzuki   Jean-Louis Battistini Kawasaki
1995   Stéphane Mertens
  Jean-Michel Mattioli
Honda RC45   Terry Rymer Kawasaki   Bruno Bonhuil Kawasaki
1996   Brian Morrison Kawasaki ZX-7RR   Alex Vieira
  William Costes
  Christian Lavieille
Honda   Piergiorgio Bontempi Kawasaki
1997   Peter Goddard
  Doug Polen
Suzuki   Juan-Éric Gomez Suzuki   Christian Lavieille
  William Costes
Honda
1998   Doug Polen
  Christian Lavieille
Honda RC45   Bertrand Sebileau Kawasaki   William Costes Honda
1999   Terry Rymer
  Jéhan d'Orgeix
Suzuki   Christian Lavieille Suzuki   Bruno Bonhuil Suzuki
2000   Peter Lindén
  Warwick Nowland
Suzuki   Stéphane Mertens Suzuki   Nicolas Dussauge
  Christophe Guyot
  Sébastien Scamato
Kawasaki
Year Winning Team Points Winning Bike Winning Riders 2nd 2nd riders 3rd 3rd riders
2001   WIM Motors Racing 182   Honda RC51   Albert Aerts
  Laurent Naveau
  Heinz Platacis
  Free Bike Performance   Matthieu Lagrive
  Eric Mizera
  Bertrand Sibileau
  Cyril Fernandez
  Honda Elf   Fabien Foret
  Sébastien Gimbert
  William Costes
  Sébastien Charpentier
2002   Zongshen 2 123   Suzuki GSX-R1000   Warwick Nowland
  Stephane Mertens
  Igor Jerman
  Giovanni Bussei
 Zongshen 9   Bruno Bonhuil
  Pierrot Lerat Vanstaen
  Igor Jerman
  GMT 94   Sebastien Scarnato
  Christophe Guyot
  William Costes
2003   Suzuki GB - Phase One 143   Suzuki GSX-R1000   James Ellison
  Jason Pridmore
  Andy Notman
  Dean Ellison
  Josh Hayes
  Olivier Four
  Jimmy Lindstrom
  Zongshen 1   Warwick Nowland
  Stéphane Mertens
  Igor Jerman
  GMT 94   Christophe Guyot
  William Costes
  Sébastien Gimbert
  Sebastien Scarnato
  David Checa
2004   Yamaha - GMT 94 169   Yamaha YZF-R1   David Checa
  William Costes
  Sebastien Gimbert
  Christophe Guyot
  Suzuki Castrol   Olivier Four
  Vincent Philippe
  Matthieu Lagrive
  Endurance Moto 38   Fréderic Jond
  Gwen Giabbani
  Stéphane Duterne
2005   Suzuki Castrol 134   Suzuki GSX-R1000   Keiichi Kitagawa
  Vincent Philippe
  Matthieu Lagrive
  Bolliger Team   Marcel Kellenberger
  David Morillon
  Yamaha Austrian Racing Team   Gwen Giabbani
  Igor Jerman
2006   Suzuki Castrol 185   Suzuki GSX-R1000   Keiichi Kitagawa
  Matthieu Lagrive
  Vincent Philippe
  Yamaha Austrian Racing Team   Sébastien Scamato
  Gwen Giabbani
  Igor Jerman
  Phase One   Warwick Nowland
  Damian Cudlin
  Christer Miinin
2007   Suzuki Endurance Racing Team 165   Suzuki GSX-R1000  Matthieu Lagrive
  Vincent Philippe
  Julien Da Costa
  Team Kawasaki France  Gwen Giabbani
  Julián Mazuecos
  Steve Parker
  Yamaha Austrian Racing Team  Igor Jerman
  Sébastien Scamato
  Damian Cudlin
2008   Suzuki Endurance Racing Team 109   Suzuki GSX-R1000   Julien Da Costa
  Vincent Philippe
  Matthieu Lagrive
  Guillaume Dietrich
  Yamaha Austrian Endurance Team   Igor Jerman
  Steve Martin
  Steve Plater
  Gwen Giabbani
  Folch Endurance   Daniel Ribalta
  Pedro Vallcaneras
  Felipe López
  David Tomás
  José Rita
2009   Yamaha Austria Racing Team 145   Yamaha YZF-R1   Gwen Giabbani
  Igor Jerman
  Steve Martin
  Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers   Stéphane Molinier
  David Briére
  Jérome Tangre
  Bolliger Team   Horst Saiger
  Patric Muff
  Rico Penzkofer
  Éric Mizera
2010   Suzuki Endurance Racing Team 133   Suzuki GSX-R 1000   Vincent Philippe
  Freddy Foray
  Sylvain Guintoli
  Guillaume Dietrich
  Daisaku Sakai
  Bolliger Team   Horst Saiger
  Roman Stamm
  Patric Muff
  Frederic Chabosseau
  Yamaha Austria Endurance Team   Gwen Giabbani
  Igor Jerman
  Steve Martin
2011   Suzuki Endurance Racing Team 109   Suzuki GSX-R 1000   Vincent Philippe
  Freddy Foray
  Daisaku Sakai
  Baptiste Guittet
  BMW Motorad France   Sébastien Gimbert
  Erwan Nigon
  Damian Cudlin
  Hugo Marchand
  GMT 94   Kenny Foray
  Matthieu Lagrive
  David Checa
2012   Suzuki Endurance Racing Team 128   Suzuki GSX-R 1000   Anthony Delhalle
  Vincent Philippe
  Freddy Foray
  Yukio Kagayama
  Takuya Tsuda
  BMW Motorad France   Sébastien Gimbert
  Erwan Nigon
  Damian Cudlin
  GMT 94   Kenny Foray
  Mathieu Lagrive
  Gwen Giabbani
  David Checa
2013   Suzuki Endurance Racing Team 93   Suzuki GSX-R 1000   Anthony Delhalle
  Vincent Philippe
  Julien Da Costa
  Alexander Cudlin
  GMT 94   David Checa
  Kenny Foray
  Matthieu Lagrive
  Maxime Berger
  SRC Kawasaki   Grégory Leblanc
  Loris Baz
  Jérémy Guarnoni
  Nicolas Salchaud
  Fabien Foret
2014   Yamaha Racing - GMT 94 - Michelin 141   Yamaha YZF-R1   David Checa
  Mathieu Gines
  Kenny Foray
  Suzuki Endurance Racing Team   Anthony Delhalle
  Erwan Nigon
  Vincent Philippe
  Damian Cudlin
  Team Bolliger #8   Horst Saiger
  Daniel Sutter
  Roman Stamm
  Marc Wildesen
2015   Suzuki Endurance Racing Team 154   Suzuki GSX-R 1000   Anthony Delhalle
  Etienne Masson
  Vincent Philippe
  GMT 94   David Checa
  Kenny Foray
  Mathieu Gines
  SRC Kawasaki   Grégory LeBlanc
  Mathieu Lagrive
  Fabien Foret
2016   Suzuki Endurance Racing Team 88   Suzuki GSX-R 1000   Anthony Delhalle
  Etienne Masson
  Vincent Philippe
  GMT 94   David Checa
  Niccolo Canepa
  Lucas Mahias
  April Moto Motors Event   Grégory Fastré
  Gregg Black
  Alexander Cudlin
2016–17   GMT94 Yamaha 146   Yamaha YZF-R1   Niccolò Canepa
  David Checa
  Mike Di Meglio
  Lucas Mahias
  Suzuki Endurance Racing Team   Anthony Delhalle
  Vincent Philippe
  Etienne Masson
  Alexander Cudlin
  Sodo Hamahara
  Yamaha Austria Racing Team   Broc Parkes
  Iván Silva
  Marvin Fritz
  Kohta Nozane
2017–18   F.C.C. TSR Honda France 171,5   Honda CBR1000RR   Joshua Hook
  Alan Techer
  Freddy Foray
  GMT 94   David Checa
  Niccolo Canepa
  Mike Di Meglio
  Honda Endurance Racing   Julien Da Costa
  Sébastien Gimbert
  Erwan Nigon
  Yonny Hernández
2018–19   Team SRC Kawasaki France 145,5   Kawasaki ZX-10R   Jérémy Guarnoni
  David Checa
  Erwan Nigon
  Randy de Puniet
  F.C.C TSR Honda   Freddy Foray
  Josh Hook
  Mike Di Meglio
  Suzuki Endurance Racing Team   Vincent Philippe
  Etienne Masson
  Gregg Black
2019–20   Suzuki Endurance Racing Team 167,5   Suzuki GSX-R 1000   Etienne Masson
  Gregg Black
  Xavier Simeon
  Vincent Philippe
  Yamaha Austria Racing Team   Marvin Fritz
  Niccolo Canepa
  Broc Parkes
  Karel Hanika
  Loris Baz
  F.C.C. TSR Honda   Freddy Foray
  Josh Hook
  Mike Di Meglio
2021   Yoshimura SERT Motul 175,5   Suzuki GSX-R 1000R   Sylvain Guintoli
  Gregg Black
  Xavier Simeon
  BMW Motorrad World Endurance   Ilya Mykhalchyk
  Markus Reiterberger
  Kenny Foray
  Javier Forés
  Webike SRC Kawasaki   David Checa
  Jérémy Guarnoni
  Erwan Nigon
2022   F.C.C. TSR Honda France 154   Honda CBR1000RR-R   Joshua Hook
  Mike Di Meglio
  Gino Rea
  Alan Techer
   Yoshimura Suzuki Endurance Racing Team   Gregg Black
  Xavier Simeon
  Sylvain Guintoli
  Kazuki Watanabe
  Viltais Racing Igol   Erwan Nigon
  Florian Alt
  Steven Odendaal
2023   Yamaha Austria Racing Team 181   Yamaha YZF-R1   Niccolo Canepa
  Marvin Fritz
  Karel Hanika
   Yoshimura Suzuki Endurance Racing Team   Gregg Black
  Sylvain Guintoli
  Étienne Masson
  BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team   Markus Reiterberger
  Illia Mykhalchyk
  Jérémy Guarnoni

Points systems

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Points systems[6]
Duration 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th
24 Hrs 40 33 28 24 21 19 17 15 13 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
12 Hrs 35 29 25 21 18 16 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Less than 8 Hrs 30 24 21 19 17 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
  • For Manufacturers only the highest placed motorcycle will gain points, according to the position in the race.
Bonus Points 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
All Rounds 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
  • For races with duration from 12 to 24 hours, the Top 10 teams after 8 hrs and 16 hrs receive bonus points.
  • Manufacturers are not concerned by this rule and will not receive bonus points.
Starting Grid 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
All Rounds 5 4 3 2 1
  • On each race, Top 5 teams on starting grid receive bonus points.

Latest races

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Classes and specifications

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Motorcycles must be based on road going models with a valid FIM homologation[6]

Formula EWC

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Formula EWC for the FIM EWC Endurance World Championship. Black number plate background, white-light headlamps and minimum weight 175 kg. This is the top category and performance improvements during the race are possible. The overall appearance of the bike cannot deviate from the homologated model, but the fork, damper, swing-arm, brakes, radiator and exhaust can be modified. Teams are also given a relatively free hand to soup up engine performance. The chassis is equipped with a quick wheel change system.[8]

Displacement

The displacement capacities must remain at the homologated size. Modifying the bore and stroke to reach class limits is not allowed.

Superstock

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Superstock for the FIM World Endurance Cup. Red number plate background, yellow-light headlamps and minimum weight of 175 kg. For Superstock, the machines are practically identical to production bikes. The engine is as provided by the manufacturer, with very limited modifications permitted (injector jets and fuel mapping, clutch reinforcement, a different exhaust silencer, etc.). Wheels must remain as homologated, so teams need a good wheel change strategy at pit stops.[8]

Displacement

The displacement capacities must remain at the homologated size. Modifying the bore and stroke to reach class limits is not allowed. In both Formula EWC and Superstock, the fuel tank is modified to a maximum capacity of 24 litres and fitted with a quick refuelling device.

Experimental

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Green number plate background, yellow-light headlamps and minimum weight of 165 kg. The category includes motorcycles whose engine, main frame or suspension are completely different from the design of the original models. Machines in the Experimental category appear in the general classification of the event but are not classified in the World Endurance Championship. They are only admitted to the start after deliberation by the Race Selection Committee, which selects the machine for its technical and innovative interest. This category can also include electrical machines.[9]

Displacement

References

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  1. ^ "New developments for FIM EWC in 2016". fimewc.com. 2016-10-12. Retrieved 2016-02-24.
  2. ^ "A Short History of Endurance". fim-live.com. 2013-10-02. Retrieved 2016-02-24.
  3. ^ a b "Coupe FIM d'Endurance 1960". racingmemo.free.fr (in French). Retrieved 2016-07-18.
  4. ^ "Endurance: 35 anni di storia per il Mondiale di categoria". corsedimoto.com (in Italian). 2015-02-02. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
  5. ^ "FIM Endurance European/World Championship results" (PDF). motorsporttop20.com. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  6. ^ a b "2021 FIM EWC Standings". fimewc.com. 2021-11-30. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  7. ^ "Calendar, Ranking, Rules and documents". fim-live.com. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  8. ^ a b "EWC Explained". fimewc.com. 2021-11-28. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
  9. ^ "Catégories Motos". fimewc.com. 2022-05-25. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
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