Endurance World Championship

Infobox sports league
title = FIM Endurance World Championship

pixels = 182px
caption = The official Endurance World Championship logo
founded = 1960
sport = Motorcycle sport
teams = 20 permanent teams
founded = 1975
country = International
champion = flagicon|FRA Suzuki Endurance Racing Team 1 (Team)
Suzuki (Manufacturer)

Endurance World Championship is the premier worldwide endurance motorcycle racing Championship. The championship season consists of a series of races held on permanent racing facilities. The results of each race are combined to determine two annual World Championships, one for teams and one for manufacturers.

The championship was founded in 1960 as the FIM Endurance Cup. Initially it was made up of four races, Thruxton, Montjuich, Warsage and the Bol d'Or.

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 races. 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 four races are referred as "the classics" and they are, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 24 Hours of Liège (held in Spa-Francorchamps), 8 Hours Of Suzuka, and the Bol d'Or (held on Paul Ricard until 1999, and Magny-Cours since then).

Up until 2000 the championship was awarded to the individual rider with the most points, in 2001, the rule changed and the championship is awarded to teams.

World Champions

=Points System [cite web|url=http://www.fim.ch/EN/rules/Sportifs/ccr/2008/Endurance_en.pdf|title=Road Racing World Championship Endurance Regulations|publisher=fim.ch|accessdate=2008-01-11|format=PDF] =

For registered races of 6 hours or for registered races of 1000 km:
* 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.

=2008 calendar [cite web|url=http://www.fim.ch/en/calendar/calDisplay.asp?item=13&CboDiscipline=CRCMEND&cboYear=2008&cboLocation=*&cboRaceType=FIM&CpsSeasonStatus=1|title=Calendrier - Endurance World Championship|publisher=fim.ch|accessdate=2008-01-11] =

=2008 Classes and Specifications [cite web|url=http://www.fim.ch/EN/rules/Sportifs/ccr/2008/Endurance_NewTech08_EN.pdf|title= Technical Regulations|publisher=fim.ch|accessdate=2008-01-11|format=PDF] =

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

Formula EWC

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 thebore and stroke to reach class limits is not allowed.

Minimum Weights

For Three and Four cylinders up to 1000 cc:
* 165 kg: for races not taking place partly at night.
* 170 kg: for races taking place partly at night.

For Two cylinders up to 1200 cc:
* 170 kg: for races not taking place partly at the night.
* 175 kg: for races taking place partly at night.

uperstock

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 thebore and stroke to reach class limits is not allowed.

Minimum Weights

The FIM decides the minimum weight value for a homologated model as sold tothe 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.

References

External links

* [http://www.fimendurance.com/ fimendurance.com] Official website