FIM Endurance World Championship
FIMEWC Logo2016.jpg
CategoryMotorcycle racing
RegionInternational
Inaugural season1960
ConstructorsSuzuki, Yamaha, BMW, Honda, Kawasaki
Tyre suppliersDunlop, Pirelli, Bridgestone
Riders' championJoshua Hook and Mike Di Meglio
Makes' championHonda
Teams' championF.C.C. TSR Honda France
Official websitefimewc.com
Motorsport current event.svg
Current season

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.

Until 2016, the championship was held on a yearly basis, but in order to take advantage of the winter break in MotoGP and Superbikes 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

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

Race Circuit
Bol d'Or France Circuit Paul Ricard
Sepang 8 Hours Malaysia Sepang International Circuit
24 Heures du Mans Moto France Le Mans
8 Hours of Slovakia Ring Slovakia Slovakia Ring
8 Hours of Oschersleben Germany Oschersleben
Coke Zero Suzuka 8 Hours Japan Suzuka
12 Hours of Estoril Portugal Estoril

World champions

[4] [5]

Year Winning Team Points Winning Bike Winning Riders 2nd 2nd riders 3rd 3rd riders
2001 Belgium WIM Motors Racing 182 Japan Honda RC51 Belgium Albert Aerts
Belgium Laurent Naveau
Germany Heinz Platacis
France Free Bike Performance France Mathieu Lagrive
France Eric Mizera
France Bertrand Sibileau
France Cyril Fernandez
France Honda Elf France Fabien Foret
France Sébastien Gimbert
France William Costes
France Sébastien Charpentier
2002 China Zongshen 2 123 Japan Suzuki GSX-R1000 Australia Warwick Nowland
Belgium Stephane Mertens
Slovenia Igor Jerman
Italy Giovanni Bussei
ChinaZongshen 9 France Bruno Bonhuil
France Pierrot Lerat Vanstaen
Slovenia Igor Jerman
France GMT 94 France Sebastien Scarnato
France Christophe Guyot
France William Costes
2003 United Kingdom Suzuki GB - Phase One 143 Japan Suzuki GSX-R1000 United Kingdom James Ellison
United States Jason Pridmore
United Kingdom Andy Notman
United Kingdom Dean Ellison
United States Josh Hayes
France Olivier Four
Sweden Jimmy Lindstrom
China Zongshen 1 Australia Warwick Nowland
Belgium Stéphane Mertens
Slovenia Igor Jerman
France GMT 94 France Christophe Guyot
France William Costes
France Sébastien Gimbert
France Sebastien Scarnato
Spain David Checa
2004 France Yamaha - GMT 94 169 Japan Yamaha YZF-R1 Spain David Checa
France William Costes
France Sebastien Gimbert
France Christophe Guyot
France Suzuki Castrol France Olivier Four
France Vincent Philippe
France Mathieu Lagrive
France Endurance Moto 38 France Fréderic Jond
France Gwen Giabbani
France Stéphane Duterne
2005 France Suzuki Castrol 134 Japan Suzuki GSX-R1000 Japan Keiichi Kitagawa
France Vincent Philippe
France Mathieu Lagrive
Switzerland Bolliger Team Switzerland Marcel Kellenberger
France David Morillon
Austria Yamaha Austrian Racing Team France Gwen Giabbani
Slovenia Igor Jerman
2006 France Suzuki Castrol 185 Japan Suzuki GSX-R1000 Japan Keiichi Kitagawa
Switzerland Matthieu Lagrive
Switzerland Vincent Philippe
Austria Yamaha Austrian Racing Team France Sébastien Scamato
France Gwen Giabbani
Slovenia Igor Jerman
United Kingdom Phase One Australia Warwick Nowland
Australia Damian Cudlin
Sweden Christer Miinin
2007 France Suzuki Endurance Racing 165 Japan Suzuki GSX-R1000 FranceMatthieu Lagrive
France Vincent Philippe
France Julien Da Costa
France Team Kawasaki France FranceGwen Giabbani
Spain Julián Mazuecos
Australia Steve Parker
Austria Yamaha Austrian Racing Team SloveniaIgor Jerman
France Sébastien Scamato
Australia Damian Cudlin
2008 France Suzuki Endurance Racing 109 Japan Suzuki GSX-R1000 France Julien Da Costa
France Vincent Philippe
France Mathieu Lagrive
France Guillaume Dietrich
Austria Yamaha Austrian Endurance Team Slovenia Igor Jerman
United Kingdom Steve Martin
United Kingdom Steve Plater
France Gwen Giabbani
Spain Folch Endurance Spain Daniel Ribalta
Spain Pedro Vallcaneras
Spain Felipe López
Spain David Tomás
Spain José Rita
2009 Austria Yamaha Austria Racing Team 145 Japan Yamaha YZF-R1 France Gwen Giabbani
Slovenia Igor Jerman
United Kingdom Steve Martin
France Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers France Stéphane Molinier
France David Briére
France Jérome Tangre
Switzerland Bolliger Team Austria Horst Saiger
Switzerland Patric Muff
Germany Rico Penzkofer
France Éric Mizera
2010 France Suzuki Endurance Racing 133 Japan Suzuki GSX-R 1000 France Vincent Philippe
France Freddy Foray
France Sylvain Guintoli
France Guillaume Dietrich
Japan Daisaku Sakai
Switzerland Bolliger Team Austria Horst Saiger
Switzerland Roman Stamm
Switzerland Patric Muff
France Frederic Chabosseau
Austria Yamaha Austria Endurance Team France Gwen Giabbani
Slovenia Igor Jerman
Australia Steve Martin
2011 France Suzuki Endurance Racing 109 Japan Suzuki GSX-R 1000 France Vincent Philippe
France Freddy Foray
Japan Daisaku Sakai
France Baptiste Guittet
Belgium BMW Motorad France France Sébastien Gimbert
France Erwan Nigon
Australia Damian Cudlin
France Hugo Marchand
France GMT 94 France Kenny Foray
France Mathieu Lagrive
Spain David Checa
2012 France Suzuki Endurance Racing 128 Japan Suzuki GSX-R 1000 France Anthony Delhalle
France Vincent Philippe
France Freddy Foray
Japan Yukio Kagayama
Japan Takuya Tsuda
Belgium BMW Motorad France France Sébastien Gimbert
France Erwan Nigon
Australia Damian Cudlin
France GMT 94 France Kenny Foray
France Mathieu Lagrive
France Gwen Giabbani
Spain David Checa
2013 France Suzuki Endurance Racing 93 Japan Suzuki GSX-R 1000 France Anthony Delhalle
France Vincent Philippe
France Julien Da Costa
Australia Alexander Cudlin
France GMT 94 Spain David Checa
France Kenny Foray
France Mathieu Lagrive
France Maxime Berger
France SRC Kawasaki France Gregory LeBlanc
France Loris Baz
France Jéremy Guamoni
France Nicolas Salchaud
France Fabien Foret
2014 France Yamaha Racing - GMT 94 - Michelin 141 Japan Yamaha YZF-R1 Spain David Checa
France Mathieu Gines
France Kenny Foray
France Suzuki Endurance Racing Team France Anthony Delhalle
France Erwan Nigon
France Vincent Philippe
Australia Damian Cudlin
Switzerland Team Bolliger #8 Austria Horst Saiger
Switzerland Daniel Sutter
Switzerland Roman Stamm
Switzerland Marc Wildesen
2015 France Suzuki Endurance Racing 154 Japan Suzuki GSX-R 1000 France Anthony Delhalle
France Etienne Masson
France Vincent Philippe
France GMT 94 Spain David Checa
France Kenny Foray
France Mathieu Gines
France SRC Kawasaki France Grégory LeBlanc
France Mathieu Lagrive
France Fabien Foret
2016 France Suzuki Endurance Racing 88 Japan Suzuki GSX-R 1000 France Anthony Delhalle
France Etienne Masson
France Vincent Philippe
France GMT 94 Spain David Checa
Italy Niccolo Canepa
France Lucas Mahais
France April Moto Motors Event France Grégory Fastré
France Gregg Black
Australia Alexander Cudlin
2016–17 France GMT94 Yamaha 146 Japan Yamaha YZF-R1 Italy Niccolò Canepa
Spain David Checa
France Mike Di Meglio
France Lucas Mahias
France Suzuki Endurance Racing Team France Anthony Delhalle
France Vincent Philippe
France Etienne Masson
Australia Alexander Cudlin
Japan Sodo Hamahara
Austria Yamaha Austria Racing Team Australia Broc Parkes
Spain Iván Silva
Germany Marvin Fritz
Japan Kohta Nozane
2017–18 Japan F.C.C. TSR Honda France 171,5 Japan Honda CBR1000RR Australia Joshua Hook
France Alan Techer
France Freddy Foray
France GMT 94 Spain David Checa
Italy Niccolo Canepa
France Mike Di Meglio
United Kingdom Honda Endurance Racing France Julien Da Costa
France Sébastien Gimbert
France Erwan Nigon
Colombia Yonny Hernández
2018–19 France Team SRC Kawasaki France 145,5 Japan Kawasaki ZX-10R France Jérémy Guarnoni
Spain David Checa
France Erwan Nigon
France Randy de Puniet
Japan F.C.C TSR Honda France Freddy Forey
Australia Josh Hook
France Mike Di Meglio
France Suzuki Endurance Racing Team France Vincent Philippe
France Etienne Masson
France Gregg Black
2019–20 France Suzuki Endurance Racing 167,5 Japan Suzuki GSX-R 1000 France Etienne Masson
France Gregg Black
Belgium Xavier Simeon
France Vincent Philippe
Austria Yamaha Austria Racing Team Germany Marvin Fritz
Italy Niccolo Canepa
Australia Broc Parkes
Czech Republic Karel Hanika
France Loris Baz
Japan F.C.C. TSR Honda France Freddy Forey
Australia Josh Hook
France Mike Di Meglio
2021 France Yoshimura SERT Motul 175,5 Japan Suzuki GSX-R 1000R France Sylvain Guintoli
France Gregg Black
Belgium Xavier Simeon
Germany BMW Motorrad World Endurance Ukraine Ilya Mykhalchyk
Germany Markus Reiterberger
France Kenny Foray
Spain Javier Forés
France Webike SRC Kawasaki Spain David Checa
France Jéremy Guamoni
France Erwan Nigon
2022 Japan F.C.C. TSR Honda France 154 Japan Honda CBR1000RR-R Australia Joshua Hook
France Mike Di Meglio
United Kingdom Gino Rea
France Alan Techer
JapanFrance Yoshimura Suzuki Endurance Racing Team France Gregg Black
Belgium Xavier Simeon
France Sylvain Guintoli
Japan Kazuki Watanabe
France Viltais Racing Igol France Erwan Nigon
Germany Florian Alt
South Africa Steven Odendaal

Points systems

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
Bonus Points 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
All Rounds 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Starting Grid 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
All Rounds 5 4 3 2 1

Latest races

Classes and specifications

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

Formula EWC

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

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.[9]

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

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.[10]

Displacement

References

  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. ^ "EWC Explained". fimewc.com. 2021-11-28. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
  9. ^ "EWC Explained". fimewc.com. 2021-11-28. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
  10. ^ "Catégories Motos". fimewc.com. 2022-05-25. Retrieved 2022-05-25.