In a World Motor Sport Council meeting, the FIA has approved an implementation for the World Endurance Championship to change the outgoing qualifying format to the ‘Hyperpole’ setup seen at Le Mans only.
From next year, a new qualifying procedure will host a 12-minute session for each of the Hypercar and the LMGT3 classes, followed by two 10-minute long Hyperpole sessions (for each of the classes).
Having only been utilised for the Le Mans 24 Hours, the top-10 competitors in each class from the first qualifying sessions will continue to Hyperpole to determine their grid positions.
The new style replaces the outgoing WEC qualifying arrangement which hosts 15-minute sessions for each of the three classes.
In 2024, with the absence of LMP2 apart from the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the WEC will be made up of the expanding Hypercar field, and the new LMGT3 class.
Within the opening address by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, he mentioned the WEC’s upcoming Hypercar climate.
“… I also welcome the recent announcement of Aston Martin and their commitment to enter the Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship from 2025.
“This class is going from strength-to-strength with an impressive line-up of some of the world’s biggest manufacturers.”
LMGT3’s technical regulations, which are based around the existing FIA GT3 platform, was also approved in the meeting as they will replace the LMGTE formula used since the inaugural WEC season in 2012.
The new GT category “will focus on gentlemen drivers and private teams”, the FIA said in an online summarisation.
WEC-specific adaptations will feature on LMGT3 cars, such as luminescent number panels, leader lights and torque sensors.
