Recap of some of the latest developments in the FIM Endurance World Championship.

DATE SET FOR PLANNED 2023 EWC SEASON-OPENING 24 HEURES MOTOS*
The date has been set for the planned opening round of the 2023 FIM Endurance World Championship, the 24 Heures Motos*. Organiser the Automobile Club de l’Ouest has announced 15-16 April as the date for the event, which takes place on the 4.185-kilometre Circuit Bugatti at Le Mans. The traditional curtain-raiser to the EWC season, the 24 Heures Motos is one of the biggest and most popular events on motorcycle racing’s international calendar. And to anticipate the huge demand for tickets, fans will be able to take advantage of special discount prices until the end of February. The official poster for the event has also been unveiled. *Subject to final FIM approval.

EWC TITLE-DECIDING 100TH-ANNIVERSARY BOL D’OR ATTRACTS 82,000 FANS
The deciding round of the 2022 FIM Endurance World Championship, the 100th-anniversary Bol d’Or attracted 82,000 fans over a three-day period. Taking place at Circuit Paul Ricard in southern France from 15-18 September, the event attendance figure was the best since 2015 and underlined the appeal of the Bol d’Or and the EWC.

MORE HELP NEEDED AS FUNDING APPEAL TO SUPPORT INJURED EWC RIDER GINO REA GETS HUGE RESPONSE
The funding appeal launched by Gino Rea’s family to help in his ongoing rehabilitation after he suffered serious head injuries during a crash practicing for round three of the FIM Endurance World Championship at Suzuka last month, has received a huge response – but more help is needed. While more than £70,000 has been raised through donations from fans, riders and other well-wishers, the amount is considerably short of the initial target of £125,000, which has been set by the family of the F.C.C. TSR Honda France rider through a GoFundMe online appeal.

WOJCIK RACING TEAM DEDICATES EWC BOL D’OR PODIUM TO GINO REA
Adam Stępień, Team Manager of Wójcik Racing Team, has dedicated the Polish squad’s second-place finish in the 100th-anniversary Bol d’Or to Gino Rea, its former rider. Rea helped Wójcik Racing Team to its first FIM Endurance World Championship podium in the 2019 Bol d’Or but is currently undergoing neuro-rehabilitation for the serious head injuries he suffered in a practice crash for the 43rd Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race.

YAMAHA CELEBRATES EWC TITLE DOUBLE
Yamaha completed the 2022 FIM Endurance World Championship season with double reason for celebration. Not only did the Japanese make capture the FIM Endurance World Championship for Manufacturers following its 1-2 finish in the Bol d’Or, it also claimed the FIM Endurance World Cup for Manufacturers.

IT’S EWC INDEPENDENTS’ DAY, TOMORROW THE WORLD FOR VILTAIS RACING IGOL
Viltaïs Racing Igol celebrated a sensational double triumph at Circuit Paul Ricard by not only winning the 100th-anniversary Bol d’Or for its first FIM Endurance World Championship victory but also claiming the EWC’s Independents’ Trophy. For Formula EWC or Superstock participants, the Independents’ Trophy from EWC promoter Discovery Sports Events recognises the achievement and endeavour of teams competing in the EWC without manufacturer support. Yamaha-powered Viltaïs Racing Igol took the title over Wójcik Racing Team by a slender margin of five and a half points with Team Bolliger Switzerland third.