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.
RndRaceCircuitLocationDate
16 Hours of Silverstone Silverstone CircuitSilverstone, United Kingdom16 April
26 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps Circuit de Spa-FrancorchampsSpa, Belgium6 May
324 Hours of Le Mans Circuit de la SartheLe Mans, France17-18 June
46 Hours of Nürburgring NürburgringNürburg, Germany16 July
56 Hours of Mexico Autódromo Hermanos RodríguezMexico City, Mexico3 September
66 Hours of Circuit of the Americas Circuit of the AmericasAustin, United States16 September
76 Hours of Fuji Fuji SpeedwayOyama, Japan15 October
86 Hours of Shanghai Shanghai International CircuitShanghai, China5 November
96 Hours of Bahrain Bahrain International CircuitSakhir, Bahrain18 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 entryAdditional entryThird manufacturer entry
* Eligible for all championship points* Eligible only for Drivers' championship points* Eligible for Drivers' championship points
  • Only eligible for Manufacturers' championship points at Le Mans

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.
EntrantCarTyreDriversRounds
Vaillante RebellionOreca 0713 Mathias BecheAll
Vaillante RebellionOreca 0713 David Heinemeier HanssonAll
Vaillante RebellionOreca 0713 Nelson Piquet Jr.1–3, 5–9
Vaillante RebellionOreca 0713 Pipo Derani4
Vaillante RebellionOreca 0731 Bruno SennaAll
Vaillante RebellionOreca 0731 Julien CanalAll
Vaillante RebellionOreca 0731 Nicolas Prost1–3, 5–9
Vaillante RebellionOreca 0731 Filipe Albuquerque4
CEFC Manor TRS RacingOreca 0724 Tor Graves1–4
CEFC Manor TRS RacingOreca 0724 Jonathan Hirschi1–4
CEFC Manor TRS RacingOreca 0724 Jean-Éric Vergne1–3, 5–9
CEFC Manor TRS RacingOreca 0724 Roberto Merhi4
CEFC Manor TRS RacingOreca 0724 Ben Hanley5–9
CEFC Manor TRS RacingOreca 0724 Matt Rao5–9
CEFC Manor TRS RacingOreca 0725 Roberto GonzálezAll
CEFC Manor TRS RacingOreca 0725 Simon TrummerAll
CEFC Manor TRS RacingOreca 0725 Vitaly PetrovAll
G-Drive RacingOreca 0722 Memo Rojas3
G-Drive RacingOreca 0722 José Gutiérrez3
G-Drive RacingOreca 0722 Ryō Hirakawa3
G-Drive RacingOreca 0726 Roman RusinovAll
G-Drive RacingOreca 0726 Pierre Thiriet1–7
G-Drive RacingOreca 0726 Alex Lynn1–3, 5–6
G-Drive RacingOreca 0726 Ben Hanley4
G-Drive RacingOreca 0726 James Rossiter7
G-Drive RacingOreca 0726 Léo Roussel8-9
G-Drive RacingOreca 0726 Nico Müller8
G-Drive RacingOreca 0726 Loïc Duval9
TDS RacingOreca 0728 Emmanuel CollardAll
TDS RacingOreca 0728 François PerrodoAll
TDS RacingOreca 0728 Matthieu Vaxiviere1, 3–9
TDS RacingOreca 0728 Ben Hanley2
Signatech Alpine MatmutAlpine A47035 Nelson Panciatici2–4
Signatech Alpine MatmutAlpine A47035 Pierre Ragues2–4
Signatech Alpine MatmutAlpine A47035 André Negrão2–4
Signatech Alpine MatmutAlpine A47036 Gustavo MenezesAll
Signatech Alpine MatmutAlpine A47036 Matt Rao1–4
Signatech Alpine MatmutAlpine A47036 Nicolas Lapierre1, 4–9
Signatech Alpine MatmutAlpine A47036 Romain Dumas2–3
Signatech Alpine MatmutAlpine A47036 André Negrão5–9
Jackie Chan DC RacingOreca 0737 David ChengAll
Jackie Chan DC RacingOreca 0737 Tristan GommendyAll
Jackie Chan DC RacingOreca 0737 Alex BrundleAll
Jackie Chan DC RacingOreca 0738 Ho-Pin TungAll
Jackie Chan DC RacingOreca 0738 Thomas LaurentAll
Jackie Chan DC RacingOreca 0738 Oliver JarvisAll

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.CircuitLMP1 WinnersLMP2 WinnersLMGTE Pro WinnersLMGTE Am WinnersReport
1Silverstone No. 8 Toyota Gazoo Racing No. 38 Jackie Chan DC Racing No. 67 Ford Chip Ganassi Team UK No. 61 Clearwater RacingResults
1Silverstone 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
2Spa-Francorchamps No. 8 Toyota Gazoo Racing No. 26 G-Drive Racing No. 71 AF Corse No. 98 Aston Martin RacingResults
2Spa-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
3Le Mans No. 2 Porsche LMP Team No. 38 Jackie Chan DC Racing No. 97 Aston Martin Racing No. 55 Spirit of RaceResults
3Le 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
4Nürburgring No. 2 Porsche LMP Team No. 38 Jackie Chan DC Racing No. 51 AF Corse No. 77 Dempsey-Proton RacingResults
4Nürburgring 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
5Mexico City No. 2 Porsche LMP Team No. 31 Vaillante Rebellion No. 95 Aston Martin Racing No. 77 Dempsey-Proton RacingResults
5Mexico City Timo Bernhard
Brendon Hartley
Earl Bamber
Julien Canal
Nicolas Prost
Bruno Senna
Marco Sørensen
Nicki Thiim
Christian Ried
Marvin Dienst
Matteo Cairoli
Results
6Austin No. 2 Porsche LMP Team No. 36 Signatech Alpine Matmut No. 51 AF Corse No. 98 Aston Martin RacingResults
6Austin 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
7Fuji No. 8 Toyota Gazoo Racing No. 31 Vaillante Rebellion No. 51 AF Corse No. 54 Spirit of RaceResults
7Fuji Sébastien Buemi
Anthony Davidson
Kazuki Nakajima
Julien Canal
Nicolas Prost
Bruno Senna
James Calado
Alessandro Pier Guidi
Thomas Flohr
Francesco Castellacci
Miguel Molina
Results
8Shanghai No. 8 Toyota Gazoo Racing No. 31 Vaillante Rebellion No. 67 Ford Chip Ganassi Team UK No. 98 Aston Martin RacingResults
8Shanghai Sébastien Buemi
Anthony Davidson
Kazuki Nakajima
Julien Canal
Nicolas Prost
Bruno Senna
Andy Priaulx
Harry Tincknell
Paul Dalla Lana
Pedro Lamy
Mathias Lauda
Results
9Bahrain No. 8 Toyota Gazoo Racing No. 31 Vaillante Rebellion No. 71 AF Corse No. 98 Aston Martin RacingResults
9Bahrain 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.
Position1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10thOther Classified
Points2518151210864210.5

Driver championships

Four titles are offered to drivers, two with world championship status. The World Endurance Drivers' Championship is reserved for LMP1 and LMP2 drivers while the GT World Endurance Drivers' Championship is available for drivers in the LMGTE categories. An FIA Endurance Trophy is awarded in the LMP2 and in LMGTE Am. The FIA Endurance Trophy for LMP1 Private Teams Drivers was not rewarded in 2017 due to not meeting the minimum number of entrants.

World Endurance Drivers' Championship

GT World Endurance Drivers' Championship

Endurance Trophy for LMP2 Drivers

Endurance Trophy for LMGTE Am Drivers

Manufacturer championships

Two manufacturers' titles will be contested, one for LMP1s and one for LMGTEs. The World Endurance Manufacturers' Championship is only open to manufacturer entries in the LMP1 category, while the GT World Endurance Manufacturers' Championship allows all entries from registered manufacturers in LMGTE Pro and LMGTE Am to participate. The top two finishing cars from each manufacturer earn points toward their total.

World Endurance Manufacturers' Championship

GT World Endurance Manufacturers' Championship

Team championships

An FIA Endurance Trophy is awarded in the LMP2, LMGTE Pro, and LMGTE Am categories. A trophy for the private LMP1 teams is not awarded in 2017 due to not meeting the minimum number of entrants.

Endurance Trophy for LMP2 Teams

Endurance Trophy for LMGTE Pro Teams

Endurance Trophy for LMGTE Am Teams

Footnotes