2016 FIA World Endurance Championship
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The 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship season was the fifth edition of the FIA World Endurance Championship auto racing series co-organised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO). The series was open to Le Mans Prototypes and grand tourer-style racing cars meeting four ACO categories. The season began at the Silverstone Circuit in April and ended at the Bahrain International Circuit in November, and included the 84th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This season was also the last WEC season for Audi Sport Team Joest as they decided not to race in the 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship Season.
Schedule
The ACO announced a provisional calendar during the 2015 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas in September 2015. The calendar retains the eight rounds from 2015, but adds the 6 Hours of Mexico City at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The World Sportscar Championship previously visited Mexico City in 1991. The Nürburgring round has been moved a month forward to July to close the gap after Le Mans.
A test session was held prior to the start of the season at Circuit Paul Ricard in March, while the mandatory test for the 24 Hours of Le Mans was held in the first week of June.
| Rnd | Race | Circuit | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prologue | Circuit Paul Ricard | France Le Castellet, Var | 25/26 March | |
| 1 | 6 Hours of Silverstone | Silverstone Circuit | United Kingdom Silverstone | 17 April |
| 2 | WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | Belgium Stavelot | 7 May |
| 3 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Circuit de la Sarthe | France Le Mans | 18–19 June |
| 4 | 6 Hours of Nürburgring | Nürburgring | Germany Nürburg | 24 July |
| 5 | 6 Hours of Mexico | Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez | Mexico Mexico City | 3 September |
| 6 | 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas | Circuit of the Americas | United States Austin, Texas | 17 September |
| 7 | 6 Hours of Fuji | Fuji Speedway | Japan Oyama, Shizuoka | 16 October |
| 8 | 6 Hours of Shanghai | Shanghai International Circuit | China Shanghai | 6 November |
| 9 | 6 Hours of Bahrain | Bahrain International Circuit | Bahrain Sakhir | 19 November |
| Sources: |
Entries
The FIA unveiled an entry of 32 cars for the 2016 season on 5 February in Paris, divided into four categories: Le Mans Prototype 1 (LMP1) and 2 (LMP2), and Le Mans Grand Touring Endurance Professional (LMGTE Pro) and Amateur (LMGTE Am).
LMP1
| Full-season entry | Additional entry (†) |
| Eligible for all championship points | Eligible only for Drivers' championship points |
LMP2
LMGTE Pro
| Entrant/Team | Car | Engine | Tyre | No. | Drivers | Rounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy AF Corse | Ferrari 488 GTE | Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 | M | 51 | Italy Gianmaria Bruni | All |
| United Kingdom James Calado | All | |||||
| Italy Alessandro Pier Guidi | 3 | |||||
| 71 | Italy Davide Rigon | All | ||||
| United Kingdom Sam Bird | All | |||||
| Italy Andrea Bertolini | 3 | |||||
| United States Ford Chip Ganassi Team UK | Ford GT | Ford EcoBoost D35 3.5 L Turbo V6 | M | 66 | France Olivier Pla | All |
| Germany Stefan Mücke | All | |||||
| United States Billy Johnson | 1–3 | |||||
| 67 | United Kingdom Andy Priaulx | All | ||||
| United Kingdom Harry Tincknell | All | |||||
| United Kingdom Marino Franchitti | 1–6 | |||||
| Germany Dempsey-Proton Racing | Porsche 911 RSR | Porsche M97/80 4.0 L Flat-6 | M | 77 | Austria Richard Lietz | All |
| Denmark Michael Christensen | All | |||||
| Austria Philipp Eng | 3 | |||||
| United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing | Aston Martin Vantage GTE | Aston Martin AM05 4.5 L V8 | D | 95 | Denmark Nicki Thiim | All |
| Denmark Marco Sørensen | All | |||||
| United Kingdom Darren Turner | 1–3 | |||||
| 97 | New Zealand Richie Stanaway | 1–5, 7–8 | ||||
| Brazil Fernando Rees | 1–3, 6 | |||||
| United Kingdom Jonathan Adam | 2–3, 9 | |||||
| United Kingdom Darren Turner | 4–9 |
LMGTE Am
Technical changes
The FIA have introduced a number of changes to the LMP1 cars for 2016 to reduce their speed. This is due to the 2015 cars being significantly faster than 2014 with most track records broken in 2015. The pace of development of the hybrid powertrains has resulted in cars racing with more than 1000 hp.
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.
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.
Driver championships
Five titles were offered to drivers in the 2016 season. The World Championship was reserved for LMP1 and LMP2 drivers, while the World Cup for GT Drivers was available for drivers in the LMGTE categories. Further, three FIA Endurance Trophies were also awarded to drivers in the LMP2 and LMGTE Am categories, and privateers in the LMP1 category.
| Duration | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | Other | Pole |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Hours | 25 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | 1 |
| 24 Hours | 50 | 36 | 30 | 24 | 20 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Source: |
World Endurance Drivers' Championship
World Endurance Cup for GT Drivers
FIA Endurance Trophy for LMP1 Private Team Drivers
| Pos. | Driver | Team | SIL United Kingdom | SPA Belgium | LMS France | NÜR Germany | MEX Mexico | COA United States | FUJ Japan | SHA China | BHR Bahrain | Total points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austria Dominik Kraihamer | Switzerland Rebellion Racing | 1 | 1 | Ret | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 193 |
| 1 | Switzerland Alexandre Imperatori | Switzerland Rebellion Racing | 1 | 1 | Ret | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 193 |
| 1 | Switzerland Mathéo Tuscher | Switzerland Rebellion Racing | 1 | 1 | Ret | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 193 |
| 2 | United Kingdom Oliver Webb | Austria ByKolles Racing Team | 3 | 3 | Ret | Ret | 2 | 2 | Ret | 1 | 2 | 109 |
| 2 | Switzerland Simon Trummer | Austria ByKolles Racing Team | 3 | 3 | Ret | Ret | 2 | 2 | Ret | 1 | 2 | 109 |
| 3 | Germany Nick Heidfeld | Switzerland Rebellion Racing | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 104 | |||||
| 3 | France Nicolas Prost | Switzerland Rebellion Racing | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 104 | |||||
| 4 | Brazil Nelson Piquet Jr. | Switzerland Rebellion Racing | 2 | 2 | 1 | 86 | ||||||
| 5 | Germany Pierre Kaffer | Austria ByKolles Racing Team | Ret | Ret | 2 | Ret | 1 | 2 | 61 | |||
| 6 | United Kingdom James Rossiter | Austria ByKolles Racing Team | 3 | 3 | 30 | |||||||
| 7 | Switzerland Mathias Beche | Switzerland Rebellion Racing | 2 | 18 | ||||||||
| Source: |
FIA Endurance Trophy for LMP2 Drivers
FIA Endurance Trophy for LMGTE Am Drivers
Manufacturer championships
Two manufacturers' titles were contested, one for LMPs and one for LMGTEs. The World Endurance Championship for Manufacturers was only open to manufacturer entries in the LMP1 category, while the World Endurance Cup for GT Manufacturers allowed all entries from registered manufacturers in LMGTE Pro and LMGTE Am to participate. The top two finishing cars from each manufacturer earned points toward their total.
World Endurance Manufacturers' Championship
| Pos. | Manufacturer | SIL United Kingdom | SPA Belgium | LMS France | NÜR Germany | MEX Mexico | COA United States | FUJ Japan | SHA China | BHR Bahrain | Total points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany Porsche | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 324 |
| Ret | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 6 | |||
| 2 | Germany Audi | Ret | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 266 |
| EX | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 6 | Ret | 6 | 2 | |||
| 3 | Japan Toyota | 2 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 229 |
| 3 | Ret | NC | 6 | Ret | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | |||
| Source: |
World Endurance Cup for GT Manufacturers
| Pos. | Manufacturer | SIL United Kingdom | SPA Belgium | LMS France | NÜR Germany | MEX Mexico | COA United States | FUJ Japan | SHA China | BHR Bahrain | Total points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italy Ferrari | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 294 |
| 2 | 6 | Ret | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | |||
| 2 | United Kingdom Aston Martin | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 287 |
| 7 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 5 | |||
| 3 | United States Ford | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 241.5 |
| 5 | Ret | 8 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 6 | |||
| 4 | Germany Porsche | 8 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 123 |
| 9 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 8 | |||
| Source: |
Team championships
All categories awarded a team trophy for each individual entry, although LMP1 was limited to entries not from a manufacturer.
FIA Endurance Trophy for Private LMP1 Teams
| Pos. | Car | Team | SIL United Kingdom | SPA Belgium | LMS France | NÜR Germany | MEX Mexico | COA United States | FUJ Japan | SHA China | BHR Bahrain | Total points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 | Switzerland Rebellion Racing | 1 | 1 | Ret | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 193 |
| 2 | 4 | Austria ByKolles Racing Team | 3 | 3 | Ret | Ret | 2 | 2 | Ret | 1 | 2 | 109 |
| 3 | 12 | Switzerland Rebellion Racing | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 104 | |||||
| Source: |
FIA Endurance Trophy for LMP2 Teams
| Pos. | Car | Team | SIL United Kingdom | SPA Belgium | LMS France | NÜR Germany | MEX Mexico | COA United States | FUJ Japan | SHA China | BHR Bahrain | Total points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 36 | France Signatech Alpine | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 199 |
| 2 | 43 | Mexico RGR Sport by Morand | 1 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 169 |
| 3 | 26 | Russia G-Drive Racing | 3 | 4 | 2 | Ret | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 164 |
| 4 | 31 | United States Extreme Speed Motorsports | 2 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 116 |
| 5 | 30 | United States Extreme Speed Motorsports | 8 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 78 |
| 6 | 37 | Russia SMP Racing | 7 | 7 | 3 | 6 | Ret | 6 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 71 |
| 7 | 42 | United Kingdom Strakka Racing | 5 | Ret | 4 | 4 | 4 | Ret | 6 | 66 | ||
| 8 | 27 | Russia SMP Racing | 9 | Ret | 5 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 62 |
| 9 | 35 | China Baxi DC Racing Alpine | 6 | Ret | Ret | 7 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 42 |
| 10 | 44 | United Kingdom Manor | Ret | 6 | Ret | 5 | Ret | Ret | 7 | 9 | 9 | 29 |
| Source: |
FIA Endurance Trophy for LMGTE Pro Teams
| Pos. | Car | Team | SIL United Kingdom | SPA Belgium | LMS France | NÜR Germany | MEX Mexico | COA United States | FUJ Japan | SHA China | BHR Bahrain | Total points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 95 | United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing | 3 | Ret | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 156 |
| 2 | 67 | United States Ford Chip Ganassi Team UK | 4 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 141 |
| 3 | 71 | Italy AF Corse | 1 | 1 | Ret | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 134 |
| 4 | 66 | United States Ford Chip Ganassi Team UK | 5 | Ret | 1 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 129 |
| 5 | 51 | Italy AF Corse | 2 | Ret | Ret | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 128 |
| 6 | 97 | United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing | Ret | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 6 | Ret | 5 | 109 |
| 7 | 77 | Germany Dempsey-Proton Racing | 6 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 88 |
| Source: |
FIA Endurance Trophy for LMGTE Am Teams
| Pos. | Car | Team | SIL United Kingdom | SPA Belgium | LMS France | NÜR Germany | MEX Mexico | COA United States | FUJ Japan | SHA China | BHR Bahrain | Total points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 83 | Italy AF Corse | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 188 |
| 2 | 88 | United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi-Proton Racing | 5 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 151 |
| 3 | 98 | United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing | 2 | 1 | Ret | 1 | Ret | 1 | 1 | 1 | Ret | 149 |
| 4 | 78 | Hong Kong KCMG | 4 | 4 | 5 | EX | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 125 |
| 5 | 50 | France Larbre Compétition | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | Ret | 3 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 112 |
| 6 | 86 | United Kingdom Gulf Racing | Ret | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 106 |
| Source: |