FIA and ACO in dispute over World Endurance Championship contracts

The partnership between the FIA and the ACO is facing significant tension regarding the future of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). Reports indicate that two key contracts governing their cooperation expired in June, leaving the current WEC season to operate without a formal agreement.

The dispute reportedly involves FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and ACO President Pierre Fillon. Tensions are allegedly driven by the FIA’s efforts to renegotiate championship contracts to secure higher financial contributions and greater authority over technical regulations. Historically, the ACO has operated under favorable terms compared to other FIA championships, such as Formula 1.

If an agreement is not reached, the FIA may issue a public tender for a new WEC promoter. However, because the ACO owns and governs the 24 Hours of Le Mans, such a move could result in the loss of the iconic race from the WEC calendar, potentially leading to the creation of separate racing series.