The FIA has confirmed its WEC agreement with the ACO runs through 2027, addressing reports of a contract dispute before Fuji.
The FIA confirmed on September 18 that its agreement with the ACO to operate the FIA World Endurance Championship runs through 2027, setting a clear timeline after reports of a contract dispute prompted questions about the relationship behind WEC.
The statement came nine days before the 2026 6 Hours of Fuji and sets out the current position without extending the deal beyond its stated term. No change has been announced to the championship's operation through 2027.
A firm response to contract reports
Reports of a disagreement had put the FIA and ACO partnership under scrutiny. The response was precise: their WEC agreement remains in place through the end of 2027.
That is the confirmed position.
The clarification does not announce a renewal, a new commercial arrangement or a revised governance structure after 2027. Instead, it specifies the length of the current agreement, which covers the rest of the 2026 season and the entire 2027 campaign.
The timing is significant for the calendar. WEC is six days from the start of its Fuji event, scheduled for September 25 to September 27, while teams are also preparing for an already published 2027 schedule.
The 2027 season is already mapped out
The agreement covers an eight-round 2027 calendar. The season begins in Qatar on March 27, followed by Italy on April 11 and Great Britain on April 25.
Spa is next on May 15, ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 12. The championship then heads to Brazil on July 11, the United States on September 12 and Japan on September 26. Bahrain stages the finale on November 6.
That calendar gives manufacturers and teams a defined competition program within the agreement's confirmed term. It also sets a precise limit on the FIA's latest statement, with no official details provided about arrangements for 2028 or beyond.
Fuji now takes immediate priority
The championship's next track running begins at Fuji Speedway on September 25. Free Practice 1 is scheduled for 10:15 on the displayed local timetable, followed by Free Practice 2 at 14:30.
Saturday, September 26, starts with Free Practice 3 at 09:50. LMGT3 qualifying begins at 14:20, with LMGT3 Hyperpole at 14:40. Hypercar qualifying is scheduled for 15:00, followed by Hypercar Hyperpole at 15:20.
The six-hour race begins Sunday, September 27, at 11:00.
An entry list has been issued for the Japanese round. Manthey is chasing its first victory of the season in Japan, while Genesis arrives after saying it is confident of “even better results” following its Austin performance.
Austin sets the competitive backdrop
The WEC field heads to Japan after a dramatic COTA round held from September 4 to September 6. The No. 50 Ferrari inherited the win with 15 minutes left when the race-leading No. 7 Toyota slowed. Cadillac advanced to second after Alpine was penalized.
Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen were classified first at COTA, scoring 25 points. Earl Bamber, Sébastien Bourdais and Jack Aitken finished second with 18, while António Félix da Costa, Charles Milesi and Ferdinand Habsburg claimed 15 in third.
Toyota's other car encountered problems as well. A stop during the virtual safety car period dropped the No. 8 Toyota to 14th, before Sébastien Buemi recovered eight positions in the final hour to finish sixth.
Qualifying results provide another firm reference before Fuji. The No. 51 Ferrari has secured 2026 Hypercar pole at Imola and COTA, making it the only Hypercar listed with two poles this season. In LMGT3, the No. 23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin matched that tally with poles in Brazil and at COTA.
Three rounds close the 2026 season
Fuji begins the closing stretch of the current campaign. After Japan, the published 2026 calendar takes WEC to Barcelona for an event from October 15 to October 18, with the race scheduled for October 18.
The official championship calendar then lists an Italian round on November 8. That leaves three race dates before the 2026 season concludes: Fuji on September 27, Barcelona on October 18 and Italy on November 8.
Away from the track, the FIA's September 18 confirmation keeps the existing WEC agreement in place through next season. The next scheduled track activity is Free Practice 1 at Fuji Speedway on September 25 at 10:15.
