- 24 Hours of Le Mans will not clash with F1 Grand Prix next year
- Six Hours of Portimão to make debut appearance
The World Endurance Championship (WEC) has announced a seven-race schedule for its 2023 season, featuring the centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Unlike this season, International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has confirmed the 24 Hours of Le Mans will not clash with a Formula One Grand Prix.
The 91st edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans will take place in its traditional 24th week slot from 10th to 11th June. It will also be the 100th anniversary of the first instalment of the race, which was staged in 1923.
The 2023 race will also see Nascar enter its Garage 56 project, marking the first time the stock car racing series has competed in the endurance race in 47 years.
The season will start with the 1000 Miles of Sebring on 17th March and conclude once more with the Eight Hours of Bahrain on 4th November.
This will be the eighth time that Bahrain has played host to the season finale, with the circuit having recently signed a five-year extension to its contract until 2027.
The calendar also sees the debut of the Six Hours of Portimão, which is set for 16th April. This will be the second time that WEC has run at the track, following the Eight Hours of Portimão in 2021.
Other events to feature on the calendar will be the Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps on 29th April, the Six Hours of Monza on 9th July, and the Six Hours of Fuji on 10th September.
“I’m very pleased to see the FIA World Endurance Championship growing in strength,” said Ben Sulayem. “I would like to thank everyone involved – the FIA, the ACO [Automobile Club of the West] and the promoter of the FIA WEC.
“Owing to the efforts of the promoter, the championship enjoys a strong and stable calendar. Looking forward, 2023 can’t come soon enough. The world’s most prestigious endurance race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans celebrates its centenary, on this occasion avoiding a clash with a Formula One Grand Prix. Also, the Hypercar will see the strongest entry to date, so there’s plenty to look forward to.”
Frédéric Lequien, chief executive of the WEC, added: “We are very happy to announce the 2023 calendar for the FIA WEC. It is a very exciting period for FIA WEC with the growth and calibre of our Hypercar class and we have expanded to include another event, with a return to Portugal.
“Portimão showcased its potential when we raced there in 2021, so it is fantastic to return there next year. We worked closely with all our stakeholders to produce a schedule which works well for the needs of our entrants and fans. 2023 should provide a fantastic season of racing and we can’t wait for it to get underway.”