The Le Mans 24 Hours FIA deal is done. On Wednesday 30 September, the FIA and the ACO confirmed a new 10-year agreement. It keeps the race on the World Endurance Championship calendar for the next decade.
The announcement ends months of speculation about a rift between FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and the ACO, which organises the French classic. It also builds on an earlier joint statement. That statement had only secured Le Mans’ place for 2027 while longer term talks continued.
FIA and ACO Confirm Decade Agreement Following Disagreements
Recent reports had claimed a rift between Ben Sulayem and ACO president Pierre Fillon. They suggested Le Mans’ status as a WEC round was at risk. Those reports followed a joint statement that only guaranteed the race’s place for 2027, with a long term contract still under negotiation. Wednesday’s announcement puts that uncertainty to rest with a full decade of commitment instead.
Ben Sulayem said the deal goes far beyond a routine renewal. He called it “a deal built for the future, a deal of the century.” He pointed to a partnership between the FIA and ACO that stretches back more than 120 years, and said it sets the championship up for a decade of growth that should benefit fans, drivers, teams and manufacturers.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem said:
It has been an honour to play a part in the collaboration that has helped usher in this golden age of endurance racing. I look forward to continuing our work alongside President Pierre Fillon and his team as we build on this momentum and shape an even stronger future.
Fillon echoed that tone of reconciliation.
We are delighted to see the agreement between the FIA and the ACO extended, reinforcing the strong and long-standing relationship that has been at the heart of the FIA World Endurance Championship since its creation in 2012. This partnership has been built on trust, shared ambition, and a common commitment to the development of endurance racing. Together, the FIA and the ACO have created a solid foundation for the continued success and international growth of the championship, and we look forward to writing the next chapter of this remarkable collaboration. Finally, I would like to thank FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem for the great relationship we have built.
Supporters who followed the uncertainty closely can revisit our earlier report. It covers how the doubts over Le Mans’ future had already shaped driver plans for 2027.
Hypercar Homologation and Regulatory Governance Structure
Beyond securing the race itself, the Le Mans 24 Hours FIA deal also resets how the top class of endurance racing is run. A key part of the agreement streamlines homologation for the Hypercar class. That division has driven manufacturer interest in the WEC since its introduction.
Homologation covers how new or updated Hypercar machinery gets approved to race. It balances performance across manufacturers and keeps costs under control. Simplifying that process should cut bureaucracy for teams while keeping the class competitive as more manufacturers consider entries.
Full details of the announcement, including both presidents’ statements in their original form, are available in the official announcement from the FIA and ACO.
WEC Timeline and Governance Approvals Ahead
According to an FIA WEC press release, the regulatory changes will not take effect immediately. They must first pass through FIA Working Groups and the FIA Endurance Commission. Those bodies shape the technical and sporting rules that govern the championship.
Final sign off rests with the FIA World Motor Sport Council. Any changes need its approval before they bind competitors. That gives manufacturers and teams time to adjust to the revised Hypercar homologation rules ahead of future seasons.
For fans tracking the championship week to week, the deal brings welcome stability to an ongoing campaign in the World Endurance Championship that has already delivered a strong season on track. Le Mans’ place is now locked in for a decade. Attention turns back to the racing itself, and the Hypercar battle still unfolding this year.
