2017 FIA World Endurance Championship
The 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship was the sixth season of the FIA World Endurance Championship, an auto racing series co-organised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile and the Automobile Club de l'Ouest. The series is open to Le Mans Prototypes and grand tourer-style racing cars divided into four categories. The season began at the Silverstone Circuit in April and will end at the Bahrain International Circuit in November, and include the 85th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. World championship titles will be awarded to the leading prototype drivers and manufacturers, while for the first time in the World Endurance Championship the leading grand touring drivers and manufacturers will also be awarded a world championship.
Following the 6 Hours of Fuji, the #2 Porsche drivers Timo Bernhard, Earl Bamber, and Brendon Hartley currently lead the World Endurance Drivers' Championship, the #38 Jackie Chan DC Racing crew of Ho-Pin Tung, Oliver Jarvis and Thomas Laurent lead the Endurance Trophies for LMP2 Drivers and Teams, the #51 AF Corse duo James Calado and Alessandro Pier Guidi lead the GT World Endurance Drivers' and Teams Championships, and the Proton Competition crew of Christian Ried, Marvin Dienst and Matteo Cairoli lead the Endurance Trophy for GTE-Am Drivers. The #61 Clearwater Racing entry leads the Endurance Trophy for GTE-Am Teams. Porsche lead the World Endurance Manufacturers' Championship, while Ferrari leads the GT World Endurance Manufacturers' Championship.
Schedule
The ACO announced a provisional calendar on 22 September 2016, largely identical to the 2016 schedule. For the upcoming season, the 6 Hours of Nürburgring event is moved one week earlier in the year, in order to avoid a potential clash with the German Grand Prix. At the same time, for the first time in the history of the WEC, the official pre-season test will not be held at Circuit Paul Ricard in France, and will instead be held at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza in Italy.Rnd | Race | Circuit | Location | Date |
1 | 6 Hours of Silverstone | Silverstone Circuit | Silverstone, United Kingdom | 16 April |
2 | 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | Spa, Belgium | 6 May |
3 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Circuit de la Sarthe | Le Mans, France | 17-18 June |
4 | 6 Hours of Nürburgring | Nürburgring | Nürburg, Germany | 16 July |
5 | 6 Hours of Mexico | Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez | Mexico City, Mexico | 3 September |
6 | 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas | Circuit of the Americas | Austin, United States | 16 September |
7 | 6 Hours of Fuji | Fuji Speedway | Oyama, Japan | 15 October |
8 | 6 Hours of Shanghai | Shanghai International Circuit | Shanghai, China | 5 November |
9 | 6 Hours of Bahrain | Bahrain International Circuit | Sakhir, Bahrain | 18 November |
Teams and drivers
On 26 October 2016, Audi Sport Team Joest announced its withdrawal from the World Endurance Championship at the end of the season.Full-season entry | Additional entry | Third manufacturer entry |
* Eligible for all championship points | * Eligible only for Drivers' championship points | * Eligible for Drivers' championship points
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LMP1
LMP2
In accordance with the new Le Mans Prototype LMP2 regulations for 2017, all cars utilise the Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 engine.Entrant | Car | Tyre | Drivers | Rounds | |
Vaillante Rebellion | Oreca 07 | 13 | Mathias Beche | All | |
Vaillante Rebellion | Oreca 07 | 13 | David Heinemeier Hansson | All | |
Vaillante Rebellion | Oreca 07 | 13 | Nelson Piquet Jr. | 1–3, 5–9 | |
Vaillante Rebellion | Oreca 07 | 13 | Pipo Derani | 4 | |
Vaillante Rebellion | Oreca 07 | 31 | Bruno Senna | All | |
Vaillante Rebellion | Oreca 07 | 31 | Julien Canal | All | |
Vaillante Rebellion | Oreca 07 | 31 | Nicolas Prost | 1–3, 5–9 | |
Vaillante Rebellion | Oreca 07 | 31 | Filipe Albuquerque | 4 | |
CEFC Manor TRS Racing | Oreca 07 | 24 | Tor Graves | 1–4 | |
CEFC Manor TRS Racing | Oreca 07 | 24 | Jonathan Hirschi | 1–4 | |
CEFC Manor TRS Racing | Oreca 07 | 24 | Jean-Éric Vergne | 1–3, 5–9 | |
CEFC Manor TRS Racing | Oreca 07 | 24 | Roberto Merhi | 4 | |
CEFC Manor TRS Racing | Oreca 07 | 24 | Ben Hanley | 5–9 | |
CEFC Manor TRS Racing | Oreca 07 | 24 | Matt Rao | 5–9 | |
CEFC Manor TRS Racing | Oreca 07 | 25 | Roberto González | All | |
CEFC Manor TRS Racing | Oreca 07 | 25 | Simon Trummer | All | |
CEFC Manor TRS Racing | Oreca 07 | 25 | Vitaly Petrov | All | |
G-Drive Racing | Oreca 07 | 22 | Memo Rojas | 3 | |
G-Drive Racing | Oreca 07 | 22 | José Gutiérrez | 3 | |
G-Drive Racing | Oreca 07 | 22 | Ryō Hirakawa | 3 | |
G-Drive Racing | Oreca 07 | 26 | Roman Rusinov | All | |
G-Drive Racing | Oreca 07 | 26 | Pierre Thiriet | 1–7 | |
G-Drive Racing | Oreca 07 | 26 | Alex Lynn | 1–3, 5–6 | |
G-Drive Racing | Oreca 07 | 26 | Ben Hanley | 4 | |
G-Drive Racing | Oreca 07 | 26 | James Rossiter | 7 | |
G-Drive Racing | Oreca 07 | 26 | Léo Roussel | 8-9 | |
G-Drive Racing | Oreca 07 | 26 | Nico Müller | 8 | |
G-Drive Racing | Oreca 07 | 26 | Loïc Duval | 9 | |
TDS Racing | Oreca 07 | 28 | Emmanuel Collard | All | |
TDS Racing | Oreca 07 | 28 | François Perrodo | All | |
TDS Racing | Oreca 07 | 28 | Matthieu Vaxiviere | 1, 3–9 | |
TDS Racing | Oreca 07 | 28 | Ben Hanley | 2 | |
Signatech Alpine Matmut | Alpine A470 | 35 | Nelson Panciatici | 2–4 | |
Signatech Alpine Matmut | Alpine A470 | 35 | Pierre Ragues | 2–4 | |
Signatech Alpine Matmut | Alpine A470 | 35 | André Negrão | 2–4 | |
Signatech Alpine Matmut | Alpine A470 | 36 | Gustavo Menezes | All | |
Signatech Alpine Matmut | Alpine A470 | 36 | Matt Rao | 1–4 | |
Signatech Alpine Matmut | Alpine A470 | 36 | Nicolas Lapierre | 1, 4–9 | |
Signatech Alpine Matmut | Alpine A470 | 36 | Romain Dumas | 2–3 | |
Signatech Alpine Matmut | Alpine A470 | 36 | André Negrão | 5–9 | |
Jackie Chan DC Racing | Oreca 07 | 37 | David Cheng | All | |
Jackie Chan DC Racing | Oreca 07 | 37 | Tristan Gommendy | All | |
Jackie Chan DC Racing | Oreca 07 | 37 | Alex Brundle | All | |
Jackie Chan DC Racing | Oreca 07 | 38 | Ho-Pin Tung | All | |
Jackie Chan DC Racing | Oreca 07 | 38 | Thomas Laurent | All | |
Jackie Chan DC Racing | Oreca 07 | 38 | Oliver Jarvis | All |
LMGTE Pro
LMGTE Am
Regulation changes
As part of the ACO's 2017 regulations, the LMP2 category has been revamped with the introduction of a single specification motor from Gibson Technology, with increased power output compared to 2016 LMP2s. Cockpit and chassis designs will also mimic the LMP1 regulations for safety. The four approved chassis manufacturers were Dallara, Ligier, Oreca and Riley. Due to the single engine manufacturer, LMP2 teams are allowed an unlimited number of engines during the season.At the behest of the manufacturers in LMGTE, the World Motor Sport Council approved the promotion of the GT Manufacturers' and Drivers' World Cups to world championship status, on par with the Manufacturers' and Drivers' World Championships for the LMP categories. LMGTE teams will also be limited to only three tyre compounds over the season, although the third compound does not have to be chosen until Le Mans. However, teams in LMGTE Pro as well as LMP1, will be limited to four sets of tyres plus two spares at all six-hour races. LMGTE entries will also no longer incur a penalty for changing an engine between qualifying and the race.
Across all categories, limitations on testing have been decreased in an attempt to lower costs. Wind tunnel testing has also been further restricted.
Results and standings
Race results
The highest finishing competitor entered in the World Endurance Championship is listed below. Invitational entries may have finished ahead of WEC competitors in individual races.Rnd. | Circuit | LMP1 Winners | LMP2 Winners | LMGTE Pro Winners | LMGTE Am Winners | Report |
1 | Silverstone | No. 8 Toyota Gazoo Racing | No. 38 Jackie Chan DC Racing | No. 67 Ford Chip Ganassi Team UK | No. 61 Clearwater Racing | Results |
1 | Silverstone | Sébastien Buemi Anthony Davidson Kazuki Nakajima | Ho-Pin Tung Thomas Laurent Oliver Jarvis | Andy Priaulx Harry Tincknell Pipo Derani | Weng Sun Mok Keita Sawa Matt Griffin | Results |
2 | Spa-Francorchamps | No. 8 Toyota Gazoo Racing | No. 26 G-Drive Racing | No. 71 AF Corse | No. 98 Aston Martin Racing | Results |
2 | Spa-Francorchamps | Sébastien Buemi Anthony Davidson Kazuki Nakajima | Roman Rusinov Pierre Thiriet Alex Lynn | Sam Bird Davide Rigon | Paul Dalla Lana Pedro Lamy Mathias Lauda | Results |
3 | Le Mans | No. 2 Porsche LMP Team | No. 38 Jackie Chan DC Racing | No. 97 Aston Martin Racing | No. 55 Spirit of Race | Results |
3 | Le Mans | Timo Bernhard Brendon Hartley Earl Bamber | Ho-Pin Tung Thomas Laurent Oliver Jarvis | Darren Turner Jonathan Adam Daniel Serra | Duncan Cameron Aaron Scott Marco Cioci | Results |
4 | Nürburgring | No. 2 Porsche LMP Team | No. 38 Jackie Chan DC Racing | No. 51 AF Corse | No. 77 Dempsey-Proton Racing | Results |
4 | Nürburgring | Timo Bernhard Brendon Hartley Earl Bamber | Ho-Pin Tung Thomas Laurent Oliver Jarvis | James Calado Alessandro Pier Guidi | Christian Ried Marvin Dienst Matteo Cairoli | Results |
5 | Mexico City | No. 2 Porsche LMP Team | No. 31 Vaillante Rebellion | No. 95 Aston Martin Racing | No. 77 Dempsey-Proton Racing | Results |
5 | Mexico City | Timo Bernhard Brendon Hartley Earl Bamber | Julien Canal Nicolas Prost Bruno Senna | Marco Sørensen Nicki Thiim | Christian Ried Marvin Dienst Matteo Cairoli | Results |
6 | Austin | No. 2 Porsche LMP Team | No. 36 Signatech Alpine Matmut | No. 51 AF Corse | No. 98 Aston Martin Racing | Results |
6 | Austin | Timo Bernhard Brendon Hartley Earl Bamber | Nicolas Lapierre Gustavo Menezes André Negrão | James Calado Alessandro Pier Guidi | Paul Dalla Lana Pedro Lamy Mathias Lauda | Results |
7 | Fuji | No. 8 Toyota Gazoo Racing | No. 31 Vaillante Rebellion | No. 51 AF Corse | No. 54 Spirit of Race | Results |
7 | Fuji | Sébastien Buemi Anthony Davidson Kazuki Nakajima | Julien Canal Nicolas Prost Bruno Senna | James Calado Alessandro Pier Guidi | Thomas Flohr Francesco Castellacci Miguel Molina | Results |
8 | Shanghai | No. 8 Toyota Gazoo Racing | No. 31 Vaillante Rebellion | No. 67 Ford Chip Ganassi Team UK | No. 98 Aston Martin Racing | Results |
8 | Shanghai | Sébastien Buemi Anthony Davidson Kazuki Nakajima | Julien Canal Nicolas Prost Bruno Senna | Andy Priaulx Harry Tincknell | Paul Dalla Lana Pedro Lamy Mathias Lauda | Results |
9 | Bahrain | No. 8 Toyota Gazoo Racing | No. 31 Vaillante Rebellion | No. 71 AF Corse | No. 98 Aston Martin Racing | Results |
9 | Bahrain | Sébastien Buemi Anthony Davidson Kazuki Nakajima | Julien Canal Nicolas Prost Bruno Senna | Sam Bird Davide Rigon | Paul Dalla Lana Pedro Lamy Mathias Lauda | Results |
Entries were required to complete the timed race as well as to complete 70% of the overall winning car's race distance in order to earn championship points. A single bonus point was awarded to the team and all drivers of the pole position car for each category in qualifying. For the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the race result points allocation was doubled. Furthermore, a race must complete three laps under green flag conditions in order for championship points to be awarded.
Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | Other Classified |
Points | 25 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0.5 |