Insight: Bumper 2024 WEC Grid Continues to Take Shape
Daniel Lloyd breaks down the state of play as the WEC’s entry deadline for next season approaches…
We’re about two weeks away from finding out which cars will form the bumper grid for next year’s FIA World Endurance Championship season.
Due to pit garage limitations at Imola and Circuit of The Americas, a total of 37 entries will be announced, split almost evenly between the Hypercar and LMGT3 classes following the removal of LMP2 at the end of this year. Following the conclusion of GTE-Am, it will mark the first season in which none of the original WEC classes remain active.
The deadline for teams to submit entry requests is Nov. 20. As that crucial date looms, it is already possible to determine much of what the grid will look like based on already-confirmed programs and information gleaned from the 8 Hours of Bahrain paddock.
Let’s start with the known Hypercar efforts. Toyota Gazoo Racing will return with two Toyota GR010 Hybrids after winning its sixth consecutive top-category manufacturers or teams’ title. The Japanese marque will announce its Hypercar driver lineups shortly after the FIA World Rally Championship concludes on Nov. 19.
There will also be two factory Peugeot 9X8s, with Stoffel Vandoorne replacing Gustavo Menezes in the lineup and with the exact driver combinations still to be confirmed.
The two Ferrari 499Ps that debuted this year will continue, and the Italian manufacturer is leaning towards keeping the same crews for its second season in Hypercar. Sportscar365 understands that there is at least one change being considered at Porsche Penske Motorsport, although the team has not confirmed if this will happen. Outside of the two-car efforts, a single Cadillac V-Series.R will compete despite prior considerations of adding a second entry.