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The WEC's Le Mans hangover must end

The World Endurance Championship could reach new heights if it was not for a calendar that revolves mostly around the Le Mans 24 Hours, claims GARY WATKINS

The Nurburgring undoubtedly has a place on the World Endurance Championship calendar for historic reasons alone. The 'Ring was part of the old world sportscar series through nearly all of its 40-year existence, but the congratulatory mood among the WEC bosses on the announcement of an August 30 date for the German track next year was surely misplaced.

Sure, it reduced the ridiculous three-month gap between the two legs of the championship that has blighted this year's series after Interlagos was put back from late August to the end of the season. But WEC boss Gerard Neveu and series promoter the Automobile Club de l'Ouest needed to go further.

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Author Gary Watkins

Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 33rd as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 80 24-hour races. He reckons a degree in political philosophy makes him well qualified for covering the sometimes Machiavellian world of international sportscars.

Gary, who also writes for Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton close to the former workshops of the Cooper Formula 1 team but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.