The FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) will return to the UK in 2027 following the announcement of the season calendar ahead of this weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. Silverstone will host the championship in April next year, giving a huge boost to British motorsport.
The news comes shortly after the confirmation that Rally Scotland will herald the return of the FIA World Rally Championship to British shores next year. The announcements mark the first time since 2019 that the UK has hosted rounds of both championships. The development is a major boost for both racing and rallying fans and provides significant inspiration for ambitious young drivers and co-drivers looking to follow in the footsteps of the sport’s current stars.
The timing of the announcement could hardly be better. Britain currently boasts reigning World Champions in Formula 1, the FIA World Endurance Championship and Formula E, with Lando Norris, James Calado and Oliver Rowland flying the flag at the highest level.
Meanwhile, Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin lead the current World Rally Championship standings, providing further evidence of the strength of British motorsport and offering outstanding role models for future generations.
The returning WEC is also enjoying a period of remarkable growth and competitiveness. Its headline Hypercar category now features no fewer than eight manufacturers, with Genesis joining Alpine, Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Peugeot and Toyota on the grid. Looking ahead, Ford and McLaren are also poised to join the championship in 2027, further strengthening an already world-class field.
The supporting LM GT3 category is equally impressive, with two-car teams representing eight manufacturers. These include Aston Martin, Corvette, Ferrari, Ford, Lexus, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche, underlining the championship’s growing appeal and manufacturer commitment.
Such strong and diverse grids are creating significant opportunities for British talent. No fewer than 30 British drivers are set to line up for the start of this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours, many of them graduates of Motorsport UK’s talent-enhancing Academy programme, highlighting the pathway from grassroots competition to the very pinnacle of international endurance racing.