FIM Endurance World Championship

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Endurance World Championship (FIM EWC) is the premier worldwide endurance motorcycle racing championship. The championship season consists of a series of endurance races (with a duration of eight, twelve or twenty-four hours) held on permanent racing facilities. The results of each race are combined to determine three World Championships, riders, teams and manufacturers. Until 2016, the championship is held on a yearly basis, but in order to take advantage of the winter break in MotoGP and Superbikes season, since September 2016 it runs from September to July, with the European races being held between November and February.

Video FIM Endurance World Championship

History

The long distance races appeared almost at the same time of the invention of the internal combustion engine at the end of the 19th century, with races being held between major cities such as Paris-Rouen in 1894, Paris-Bordeaux, Paris-Madrid and others. In those years cars and motos raced together, competing for speed (fastest time) or regularity (achieving a certain objective time). These races on open roads where very dangerous, and the successive fatal tragedies (such as 1903 Paris-Madrid) move the race to roads closed to normal traffic (before the creation of real racing circuits) led to the separation of cars and motos, and the long distance races turning into rallies

The Bol d'Or (most famous and prestigious Endurance race) was held for the first time in 1922 on the circuit of Vaujours, near Paris (a beaten-earth road circuit used since 1888 for 24-hour competitions for bicycles). Other endurance races were created after World War II, such as 24 Hour Race in Warsage (Belgium) in 1951, the 500 Miles of Thruxton in 1955, the 24 Hours of Montjuich in Barcelona in 1957, and the 24 hours of Monza (Italy) in 1959.. At the beginning, most races were held over 24 Hours, but soon shorter races were introduced, defined in terms either of distance (500 Miles, 1000 Miles, and much later even 200 Miles) or of time (12 Hours, 8 Hours or 6 Hours).

The series was founded in 1960 as the FIM Endurance Cup. Initially it was made up of four races: Thruxton 500, 24 hours of Montjuïc, 24 hours of Warsage and the Bol d'Or.

The Bol d'Or was not held between 1961 and 1968, while the 1000 km of Paris, was held twice on the circuit of Monthléry. In the first decade, the FIM EC races were held essentially in Great Britain, Italy and Spain - the three countries with more riders

In 1976 the FIM Endurance Cup became the European Championship and in 1980 a World Championship. During the 1980s the Endurance World Championship calendar numbered up to ten events. The championship's popularity gradually declined and the calendar was gradually reduced to just the four so-called "classics": 24 Hours of Le Mans, 24 Hours of Liège (held in Spa-Francorchamps), 8 Hours Of Suzuka, and the Bol d'Or (held mostly on Paul Ricard or Magny-Cours).

In 1989 and 1990 the Championship went back to a World Cup status, as the number of events required by the FIM Sporting Code was not reached.

The 4 events championship (with 24 Hours of Liège being replaced by other races) in the same year was maintained until 2016. In 2015 FIM and the pan-European television sports network, Eurosport signed a deal for the promotion and coverage of the competition. With this, the organization re-ordered the events, in order to the new championship starting in September and finishing in July, with the European races being held during the winter avoiding the MotoGP and Superbikes schedules.

Maps FIM Endurance World Championship

Races

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World Champions

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Points system

For registered races of less than 8 hours:

For registered races from 8 hours to 12 hours:

For registered races of 24 hours:

• For teams, the points will be those gained in each race.
• For Constructors, only the highest placed motorcycle of a Constructor will gain points, according to the position in the race.

For registered races with duration from 12 to 24 hours, a partial classification will be established. After 8 hours and 16 hours, the 10 teams (and their riders), that are leading the race at that time will receive scratch bonus points as follow:

After 8 hours race and after 16 hours race:

• These bonus points will be awarded independently with the results of the race.
• Constructors are not concerned by this rule and will not receive bonus points.

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Latest races

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2012 Classes and Specifications

Motorcycles must be based on road going models with a valid FIM homologation

Formula EWC

This is the top category.

Displacement

• 4 cylinders Over 600 cc up to 1000 cc 4-stroke
• 3 cylinders Over 750 cc up to 1000 cc 4-stroke
• 2 cylinders Over 850 cc up to 1200 cc 4-stroke

The displacement capacities must remain at the homologated size. Modifying the bore and stroke to reach class limits is not allowed.

Minimum Weights

• 170 kg: for races not taking place partly at the night.
• 175 kg: for races taking place partly at night.

Superstock

Displacement

• 3 cylinders and 4 cylinders Over 750 cc up to 1000 cc 4-stroke
• 2 cylinders Over 850 cc up to 1200 cc 4-stroke

The displacement capacities must remain at the homologated size. Modifying the bore and stroke to reach class limits is not allowed.

Minimum Weights

The FIM decides the minimum weight value for a homologated model as sold to the public by determining its dry weight. The dry weight of a homologated motorcycle is defined as the total weight of the empty motorcycle as produced by the manufacturer (after removal of fuel, vehicle number plate, tools and main stand when fitted). To confirm the dry weight a minimum of three (3) motorcycles are weighed and compared. The result is rounded off to the nearest digit.

The minimum weight for motorcycles will be:

• Dry weight minus 12 kg for races not taking place partly at night.
• Dry weight minus 9 kg for races taking place partly at night.
• In all cases the minimum weight can not be less than 168 kg.

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References

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External links

• Official website
• Official website at FIM
• Race24.com Unofficial website, covering the championship since 1999. Archive of official site between 2005 and 2006
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Source of the article : Wikipedia