At the recent meeting of the FIA World Motorsport Council in Vienna, Austria, it was ruled that the creation of a FIA-approved World Championship for GTE Drivers and Manufacturers title will commence from 2017.
At present, there are four major OEMs, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Ford and Porsche, are already entered in the WEC, with the news likely to bolster competition further.
“I would like to warmly thank Jean Todt, President of the FIA and Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones, President of the FIA Endurance Commission, for their total involvement in obtaining this title,” said Pierre Fillon, president of the ACO. “I would like also to acknowledge the efforts made by the manufacturers and their sporting performances that fully justify this world title label.”
“The announcement of this world title is excellent news for the WEC and rewards a grid of the highest quality,” added Gérard Neveu, CEO of the FIA WEC. “This decision should speed up the arrival of other manufacturers to this category.”
