09 September 2017
Of the teams competing in the entire 2017-2018 FIM EWC (except for the Suzuka 8 Hours, which they have no obligation to race), nineteen are entered in the Formula EWC class, and fourteen in Superstock. They will all be in Castellet next week for the opening round of the 2017-2018 FIM EWC.
International flavour
This season’s teams represent twelve different countries (seventeen considering the riders’ nationalities): France, Japan, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, some Central European countries, the U.S., Australia and Colombia. This diversity only goes to show that the FIM EWC is becoming increasingly international.
There will be five factory-backed teams at the race start: French squads GMT94 Yamaha (the 2016-2017 FIM EWC world champion) and Suzuki Endurance Racing Team; Austrian team YART Yamaha, Japanese squad F.C.C. TSR Honda France, and British team Honda Endurance Racing.
Twelve new teams on the grid
There will be several newcomers too. Twelve teams with varying degrees of experience and ambition have signed up for the first time to compete in the full championship.
Belgian team Mototech EWC Team (Honda) made some initial forays into the championship last season. “This is our first full season; a whole new year for our team to learn and improve, says Mototech team manager David Drieghe. Our aim is to get up to speed and be competitive as fast as possible. But we’re only a small Belgian team, and our biggest challenge is raising the funds needed.”
Zuff Racing Team, a young Swiss squad, debuted at the 2015 Bol d’Or. The 6th Superstock past the finish line at the 24 Heures Motos in 2017, this season Zuff Racing Team is racing the entire championship in the Supesrtock class on a Honda. “Racing one or two rounds whets your appetite, confesses rider Kevin Zufferey, who is also the team manager of Zuff Racing Team. It was our dream to enter the entire championship, but until now our budget didn’t stretch that far. Our goal is to get good enough to move up into the EWC class and become a permanent team, like Bolliger Team, and find ourselves some very fast Swiss riders.”
French team RAC41 Honda already has a solid track record. Created in 1999 by Arnaud Larose, RAC41 finished 3rd at the 24 Heures Motos and 4th at the Bol d’Or in 2010. After entering the races on French soil these past few seasons, RAC41 Honda has now signed up for a full season in the Superstock class. “We’re looking to chase a podium in our category, says RAC41 Honda team manager Ludovic Rezé. We’re driven by our thirst for competition and a desire to get ahead, especially with Eurosport bumping up the visibility of motorcycle sports in the media.”
Teams competing in the 2017-2018 FIM EWC
28 March 2024
Team 202 will fly the flag of the National Police Motorcycle of Club of France during the upcoming FIM Endurance World Championship season.Florent Parret’s Superstock outfit, which has raced in the EWC since 1998, once again features serving police officers Sofian Lhuillier and Gilles Minutello – along with Parret – in its line-up.And after placing 31st overall and 19th among the Dunlop-equipped Superstock category contenders in last year’s 24 Heures Motos, the Yamaha-powered outfit is hoping to make more progress when the Le Mans event opens the 2024 EWC season next month.“Sofian and Gilles had never participated in the 24 Heures Motos and their knowledge of motorcycle racing was limited,” Parret told 24h-motos.com. “The goal was for them to gain experience. During the race, we had three crashes. Despite this, we consider that the result of the race is satisfactory, because we wanted to take the chequered flag.“We are more relaxed than last year because Sofian and Gilles know what to do and know their limits. Thanks to the experience gained, they will gain speed. They will again approach the race with great caution because endurance is a demanding discipline. If we do not experience hazards, by definition, we should gain places in the ranking. Our goal is to do better than in 2023 by getting closer to the top 20 in the general ranking.”Team 202 has prepared for the 2024 season with tests in Spain and France. It will also take part in the Pre-Test for the 24 Heures Motos from 2-3 April.
27 March 2024
Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team will defend its FIM Endurance World Championship crown carrying the number one on its R1.Although championship-winning teams usually use the number one during their title defence, it wasn’t previously an official requirement in the EWC – until the rules were updated for 2024.According to the regulations from EWC governing body Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, “the world champion of the previous season will wear number 1 during the current season”.However, in the event of YART being unable to defend its EWC title in 2024, it can revert to its traditional number seven in 2025 as “its former racing number will be protected during the period it wears the 1”, in line with the regulations.Marvin Fritz, who partnered Niccolò Canepa and Karel Hanika to the 2023 EWC title, said: “This is something we were dreaming of for a long time and we can’t wait to start the new season with the number one on our bike.”The 24 Heures Motos opens the 2024 EWC season at Le Mans in France from 18-21 April. Click HERE for ticket information. Photo: Facebook.com/MarvinFritz.2
26 March 2024
Rookie squad TCP Racing will embark on its first full FIM Endurance World Championship campaign with a firm focus on promoting young talent.Managed by ex-racer Peter Polesso, TCP Racing has recruited young French foursome Alan Agogue, Maxence Chachuat, Marcus Delestre and Felix Peron to ride its Yamaha in the Superstock-based FIM Enurance World Cup.“We are extremely proud of our team because everyone here is passionate with one goal: to make this project a success,” Polesso said. “A huge thank you to our supporting sponsors.”Peron said: “I want to thank the team and especially Peter Polesso for the confidence given. It's an honour to wear the colours TCP Racing, endurance is a team sport and I'm proud to be a part of it.”Delestre added: “Very happy to be part of this young dynamic and professional team led by Peter Polesso. I’m very grateful he trusts me to make my debut in such a mythical championship.”The 47th 24 Heures Motos, based at Le Mans in France, opens the new EWC season from 18-21 April. Visit FIMEWC.com soon for more on TCP Racing.Photo: Go2Creation