2025 Preview: FIA World Endurance Championship at Spa-Francorchamps
The FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) makes its anticipated return to the prestigious Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium for the renowned 6 Hours of Spa, slated to take place from May 8th to 10th, 2025. This event marks the third round of the season and serves as a pivotal final rehearsal ahead of the illustrious 24 Hours of Le Mans set for June.
Key Storylines
A Vital Prelude to Le Mans: Serving as the last race before the iconic 24-hour endurance test, Spa is crucial for teams to refine their vehicles, strategies, and collaborative efforts under competitive conditions. Many teams utilise this opportunity to finalise their preparations for the season’s most formidable challenge.
Ferrari’s Ascendancy Ferrari arrives at Spa with considerable momentum, having secured victories at both Qatar and Imola earlier in the season. The No. 50 and No. 51 Ferrari crews have exhibited exemplary pace, and the team aims to extend its winning streak.
Toyota’s Resurgence: Historically dominant at Spa, Toyota Gazoo Racing, with eight victories in the last ten races here, is determined to recover from a challenging start to the season. Currently positioned third in the manufacturers’ standings, the team is keen to regain competitive ground on Ferrari.
Porsche’s Quest for Redemption: After a strong performance at Spa in 2024, Porsche is looking for a resurgence following a tough beginning to the 2025 season. The Porsche Penske Motorsport factory team, along with various customer teams, will compete across both the Hypercar and LMGT3 classes.
A Thriving Grid: The 2025 Spa grid comprises 36 cars—18 in the Hypercar class and 18 in LMGT3. Noteworthy entries include the debut of the Aston Martin Valkyrie Hypercar and Mercedes AMG GT3 cars, while Lamborghini and Isotta Fraschini are absent due to a scheduling conflict with IMSA at Laguna Seca.
BoP changes
As the 2025 6 Hours of Spa approaches, the FIA WEC has introduced significant Balance of Performance (BoP) adjustments geared towards enhancing competitiveness among Hypercar manufacturers. Notably, Ferrari faces a weight increase of 12 kg, along with a 19 kW power reduction below 250 km/h, which may challenge its recent dominance. Toyota also sees a weight rise of 4 kg and the lowest power output in the field at 480 kW, although it gains the largest boost above 250 km/h, which could benefit its performance on Spa’s long straights. Meanwhile, the Aston Martin Valkyrie receives a welcome 16 kg reduction in weight and a power increase to the class maximum of 520 kW..
