2015 FIA World Endurance Championship

2015 FIA World Endurance Championship
OrganizerFédération Internationale de l'Automobile
Automobile Club de l'Ouest
DisciplineSports car endurance racing
Number of races8
Champions
LMP1 ManufacturerGermany Porsche
GTE ManufacturerGermany Porsche
LMP1 TeamSwitzerland Rebellion Racing
LMP2 TeamRussia G-Drive Racing
LMGTE Pro TeamGermany Porsche Team Manthey
LMGTE Am TeamRussia SMP Racing
FIA World Endurance Championship seasons
Mark Webber, Timo Bernhard, and Brendon Hartley won the Drivers Championship
Porsche won the Manufacturers Championship with its 919 Hybrid entries

The 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship season was the fourth season of the FIA World Endurance Championship auto racing series, co-organized by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO). The series was open to Le Mans Prototypes and grand tourer-style racing cars meeting four ACO categories. World championship titles were awarded for Le Mans Prototypes drivers and for manufacturers in the LMP1 category, and several World Endurance Cups and Endurance Trophies were also awarded in all four categories. The season began at the Silverstone Circuit in April and ended at the Bahrain International Circuit in November after eight rounds, and included the 83rd running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Porsche secured the World Manufacturers' Championship at the 6 Hours of Shanghai, beating Audi by eighty points. Porsche's Timo Bernhard, Mark Webber, and Brendon Hartley won the World Drivers' Championship in the final round of the season, ahead of Audi's André Lotterer, Benoît Tréluyer, and Marcel Fässler. Porsche teammates Marc Lieb, Romain Dumas, and Neel Jani were third in the championship standings. Bernhard, Webber, and Hartley won four consecutive races over the course of the season. Porsche also won the World Endurance Cup for GT Manufacturers in the final event, overcoming the lead held by Ferrari earlier in the season. Richard Lietz of Porsche won the World Endurance Cup for GT Drivers over three-time defending Cup winner Gianmaria Bruni and his teammate Toni Vilander.

Rebellion Racing and their drivers Mathias Beche and Nicolas Prost won the trophies for LMP1 class private entries despite not participating in the first two rounds of the championship. The championships were Rebellion's fourth and Beche and Prost's second consecutive trophy titles respectively. Roman Rusinov, Julien Canal, and Sam Bird of G-Drive Racing secured the LMP2 class trophies over the KCMG team. Porsche Team Manthey won the LMGTE Professional category trophy for teams over Ferrari representative AF Corse. The LMGTE Amateur category trophies were won by SMP Racing and their drivers Viktor Shaitar, Aleksey Basov, and Andrea Bertolini, ahead of AF Corse's LMGTE Am entry.

Schedule

[edit]

A provisional calendar was announced by the ACO at the 2014 6 Hours of Fuji[1] and confirmed at the FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting in Doha shortly after.[2] The schedule remains much the same as 2014, with the notable exception of the 6 Hours of São Paulo being replaced by the 6 Hours of Nürburgring. The planned construction of a new pit complex at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace precluded the event from returning in 2015. The Nürburgring round will be the series' first visit to Germany and will take place between the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas, shortening the over three-month gap that was part of the 2014 schedule by three weeks.[1]

Rnd Race Circuit Location Date
Prologue Circuit Paul Ricard France Le Castellet, Var 27/28 March
1 6 Hours of Silverstone Silverstone Circuit United Kingdom Silverstone 12 April
2 WEC 6 Heures de Spa-Francorchamps Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps Belgium Stavelot 2 May
3 24 Heures du Mans Circuit de la Sarthe France Le Mans 13–14 June
4 6 Hours of Nürburgring Nürburgring Germany Nürburg 30 August
5 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas Circuit of the Americas United States Austin, Texas 19 September
6 6 Hours of Fuji Fuji Speedway Japan Oyama, Shizuoka 11 October
7 6 Hours of Shanghai Shanghai International Circuit China Shanghai 1 November
8 Bapco 6 Hours of Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit Bahrain Sakhir 21 November
Sources:[3][4]

Entries

[edit]

The FIA unveiled an entry of 35 cars for the 2015 season on 5 February, divided into four categories: Le Mans Prototype 1 (LMP1) and 2 (LMP2), and Le Mans Grand Touring Endurance Professional (LMGTE Pro) and Amateur (LMGTE Am).[5]

LMP1

[edit]

The LMP1-H and LMP1-L categories introduced in 2014 are merged once more into a single LMP1 category, allowing the privateer teams to again face the manufacturer teams.[6] Nissan joins the LMP1 category as a manufacturer after supplying engines in LMP2 since the series' inception in 2012. The Nissan GT-R LM Nismo utilizes a unique layout amongst the LMP1 field, with a front-engine design and a front-wheel drive powertrain. Nissan's drivers include FIA GT1 World Champion Michael Krumm, European Le Mans Series LMP2 champion Olivier Pla who moves from G-Drive Racing, and former Formula One driver Max Chilton. LMP2 veterans Harry Tincknell, Jann Mardenborough, and Alex Buncombe complete the team's full season line-up, while Lucas Ordóñez, Mark Shulzhitskiy, and defending Super GT champion Tsugio Matsuda will drive the team's third entry for Le Mans.

Debutants in 2014, Porsche retain their line-up but add a third 919 Hybrid for Le Mans: current Force India Formula One driver Nico Hülkenberg joined Nick Tandy and Earl Bamber who were promoted from Porsche's LMGTE program.

With the retirement of 2013 World Endurance Drivers' champion Tom Kristensen, Audi have promoted Oliver Jarvis to partner with Lucas di Grassi and Loïc Duval in an R18 e-tron quattro. The second Audi retains the same line-up which won the 2012 World Endurance Drivers' championship: Marcel Fässler, Benoît Tréluyer, and André Lotterer. René Rast moves from Audi's GT program to take Jarvis' vacated seat in the third Audi for Le Mans.

Defending World Endurance Drivers' champions Anthony Davidson and Sébastien Buemi gain a new co-driver at Toyota for 2015, as Kazuki Nakajima switches from the sister car to replace the departed Nicolas Lapierre. Nakajima's spot in the second TS040 Hybrid is filled by Mike Conway, promoted from reserve duty in 2014, to partner Stéphane Sarrazin and Alexander Wurz.

The two LMP1-L entries from 2014 remain into the new season but with alterations to their campaigns. Kodewa, previously entered under sponsorship with Lotus Cars, is renamed Team ByKolles for 2015. ByKolles retains the CLM P1/01 with AER power that they campaigned in the second half of 2014. Pierre Kaffer is retained alongside Simon Trummer who appeared with Kodewa for one race in 2014. Vitantonio Liuzzi returns to the team after having previously campaigned the Lotus in LMP2 in 2013. Rebellion Racing come into 2015 as the defending LMP1 Private Teams champions, but have chosen to forgo the Toyota engines for the same AER powerplant used by Team ByKolles. This decision forced Rebellion to withdraw from the first races of the season in order to adapt their R-Ones for the new motors. The No. 12 Rebellion's drivers remain unchanged, while the No. 13 adds series rookie Daniel Abt and former KCMG LMP2 driver Alexandre Imperatori alongside team veteran Dominik Kraihamer.

Key
Full-season entry Additional entry Third manufacturer entry
* Eligible for all championship points * Eligible only for Drivers' championship points * Eligible for Drivers' championship points
* Only eligible for Manufacturers' championship points at Le Mans
Entrant/Team Car Engine Hybrid Tyre No. Drivers Rounds
Japan Toyota Racing Toyota TS040 Hybrid Toyota RV8 3.7 L V8 Hybrid M 1 United Kingdom Anthony Davidson[7] All
Switzerland Sébastien Buemi[7] All
Japan Kazuki Nakajima[7] 1, 3–8
2 Austria Alexander Wurz[7] All
France Stéphane Sarrazin[7] All
United Kingdom Mike Conway[7] All
Austria Team ByKolles CLM P1/01 AER P60 2.4 L Turbo V6 M 4 Switzerland Simon Trummer[5] All
Italy Vitantonio Liuzzi[8] 1–2
Austria Christian Klien[9] 1–2
Portugal Tiago Monteiro[10] 3
Germany Pierre Kaffer[8] 3–8
Germany Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R18 e-tron quattro Audi TDI 4.0 L Turbo Diesel V6 Hybrid M 7 Germany André Lotterer[11] All
France Benoît Tréluyer[11] All
Switzerland Marcel Fässler[11] All
8 United Kingdom Oliver Jarvis[11] All
Brazil Lucas di Grassi[11] All
France Loïc Duval[11] All
9 Italy Marco Bonanomi[11] 2–3
Portugal Filipe Albuquerque[11] 2–3
Germany René Rast[11] 2–3
Switzerland Rebellion Racing Rebellion R-One AER P60 2.4 L Turbo V6 M 12 France Nicolas Prost[5] 3–8
Switzerland Mathias Beche[12] 3–8
Germany Nick Heidfeld[12] 3–5
13 Austria Dominik Kraihamer[12] 3–8
Switzerland Alexandre Imperatori[12] 3–8
Germany Daniel Abt[12] 3–6
Switzerland Mathéo Tuscher[13] 7–8
Germany Porsche Team Porsche 919 Hybrid Porsche 2.0 L Turbo V4 Hybrid M 17 Germany Timo Bernhard[14] All
Australia Mark Webber[14] All
New Zealand Brendon Hartley[14] All
18 France Romain Dumas[14] All
Switzerland Neel Jani[14] All
Germany Marc Lieb[14] All
19 Germany Nico Hülkenberg[15] 2–3
New Zealand Earl Bamber[16] 2–3
United Kingdom Nick Tandy[16] 2–3
Japan Nissan Motorsports Nissan GT-R LM Nismo Nissan VRX30A 3.0 L Turbo V6 Hybrid M 21 Japan Tsugio Matsuda[17] 3
Spain Lucas Ordóñez[17] 3
Russia Mark Shulzhitskiy[17] 3
22 United Kingdom Harry Tincknell[17] 3
United Kingdom Alex Buncombe[17] 3
Germany Michael Krumm[17] 3
23 France Olivier Pla[17] 3
United Kingdom Jann Mardenborough[17] 3
United Kingdom Max Chilton[17] 3

LMP2

[edit]

After the LMP2 field in 2014 was the smallest in the history of the WEC, with only four cars competing for the full season despite an initial seven entries in the category, the class has regained popularity with ten entries for 2015. Even with an increase in cars, defending LMP2 champions SMP Racing and driver Sergey Zlobin have opted not to return, instead focusing on the European Le Mans Series to develop their new BR01 chassis. 2013 LMP2 champions OAK Racing return to the series under their own banner for team owner and driver Jacques Nicolet, while their G-Drive Racing operation which won four races in 2014 expands to a two-car operation in 2015. Sam Bird replaces Olivier Pla in the first G-Drive entry alongside Roman Rusinov and Julien Canal, while Gustavo Yacamán, Ricardo González, and Pipo Derani share the second car. All three entries will use the Ligier JS P2-Nissan combination. KCMG also remain in the series for 2015, replacing their Oreca 03 with the newer 05 chassis. Porsche driver Nick Tandy will join KCMG for part of the season when not driving the third Porsche LMP1, while Richard Bradley and Matthew Howson remain with the squad. Former Toyota LMP1 driver Nicolas Lapierre will serve as Tandy's replacement when he is unavailable. Strakka Racing, who had filed a full-season entry in 2014 but failed to participate after development delays with their Strakka-Dome S103 chassis, return for 2015 with an unchanged program. Strakka were the only team campaigning Michelin tyres in LMP2 before switching to the Dunlops used by the rest of the category.

Defending European Le Mans Series champions Signatech, retaining drivers' champions Nelson Panciatici and Paul-Loup Chatin and adding Vincent Capillaire to the team. The team, which previously participated in 2012, will have backing from Alpine with their Oreca-based A450 chassis with Nissan power. Morand Racing also shifts from the European Le Mans Series, partnering with the Japanese firm SARD in a joint effort. The team initially entered two improved versions of the Morgan LMP2 with Judd engines, but funding issues forced the team to downsize to a single entry.[18] Former European Le Mans Series drivers' champion Oliver Webb jumps from Signatech to SARD Morand with Pierre Ragues and rookie Zoël Amberg. Extreme Speed Motorsports is the only North American-representative in the series, shifting from the United SportsCar Championship to the WEC with their HPD-Hondas. In last year's season, as not full-season entrants eligible for points, the team entered with a single car at the 2014 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas, and then entered two cars in the 6 Hours of Shanghai, where those two events were served as preparation for a full season entry in 2015. Team owner Scott Sharp joins Ryan Dalziel, who secured an LMP2 championship for Starworks Motorsport in the 2012 WEC, and David Heinemeier Hansson, who won the LMGTE Am Drivers' championship in 2014. The second HPD-Honda will be crewed by Johannes van Overbeek, Ed Brown, and former Rolex Sports Car Series champion Jon Fogarty.

Entrant/Team Car Engine Tyre No. Drivers Rounds
Russia G-Drive Racing Ligier JS P2 Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 D 26 Russia Roman Rusinov[5] All
France Julien Canal[19] All
United Kingdom Sam Bird[19] All
28 Colombia Gustavo Yacamán[5] All
Mexico Ricardo González[19] All
Brazil Pipo Derani[19] All
United States Extreme Speed Motorsports HPD ARX-03b[20]
Ligier JS P2[21]
Honda HR28TT 2.8 L Turbo V6 D 30 United States Scott Sharp[22] All
United Kingdom Ryan Dalziel[22] All
Denmark David Heinemeier Hansson[22] All
31 United States Ed Brown[22] All
United States Jon Fogarty[22] All
Australia David Brabham[23] 1
United States Johannes van Overbeek[22] 2–8
France OAK Racing Ligier JS P2 Honda HR28TT 2.8 L Turbo V6 D 34 Canada Chris Cumming[24] 3
France Kévin Estre[24] 3
Belgium Laurens Vanthoor[24] 3
Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 35 France Jacques Nicolet[5] 1–3
France Jean-Marc Merlin[25] 1–3
France Erik Maris[25] 1–3
France Signatech Alpine Alpine A450b Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 D 36 France Nelson Panciatici[5] All
France Paul-Loup Chatin[26] All
France Vincent Capillaire[26] 1–6
France Tom Dillmann[27] 7–8
United Kingdom Strakka Racing Strakka-Dome S103
Gibson 015S[28]
Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 M
D
42 United Kingdom Nick Leventis[5] All
United Kingdom Jonny Kane[29] All
United Kingdom Danny Watts[29] All
Switzerland Team SARD Morand Morgan LMP2 Evo SARD (Judd) 3.6 L V8 D 43 United Kingdom Oliver Webb[18] 2–8
France Pierre Ragues[18] 2–8
Switzerland Zoël Amberg[18] 2–3
United Kingdom Archie Hamilton[30] 4–5
Canada Chris Cumming[31] 6–8
Hong Kong KCMG Oreca 05 Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 D 47 United Kingdom Matthew Howson[5] All
United Kingdom Richard Bradley[32] All
United Kingdom Nick Tandy[33] 1, 4, 6–8
France Nicolas Lapierre[34] 2–3, 5

LMGTE Pro

[edit]

The LMGTE Pro category remains largely unchanged from 2014 as Porsche, Ferrari, and Aston Martin remain the sole manufacturers involved. Three-time LMGTE champions AF Corse's Ferraris will have a near identical line-up as Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander defend their titles in the lead car, while James Calado and Davide Rigon remain in the second Ferrari. Porsche Team Manthey also keeps the drivers for its two cars largely unchanged. Frédéric Makowiecki, Patrick Pilet, and Wolf Henzler share the No. 92, while Jörg Bergmeister and Richard Lietz remain in the No. 91. Michael Christensen is the newcomer to the No. 91, replacing the promoted Nick Tandy. Aston Martin Racing expands their effort to three cars for 2015 after partner Young Driver's entry, which won the LMGTE Am category in 2014, moves to the Pro class. The all-Danish line-up of Nicki Thiim and Christoffer Nygaard are joined by newcomer Marco Sørensen. Robert Bell takes over Bruno Senna's seat alongside Stefan Mücke and Darren Turner, while Alex MacDowall and Fernando Rees are joined by Richie Stanaway, promoted from Aston Martin's LMGTE Am line-up the previous season.

Entrant/Team Car Engine Tyre No. Drivers Rounds
Italy AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 Ferrari 4.5 L V8 M 51 Italy Gianmaria Bruni[35] All
Finland Toni Vilander[35] All
Italy Giancarlo Fisichella[36] 3
71 Italy Davide Rigon[35] All
United Kingdom James Calado[35] All
Monaco Olivier Beretta[36] 3
Germany Porsche Team Manthey Porsche 911 RSR Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 M 91 Austria Richard Lietz[5] 1, 3–8
Denmark Michael Christensen[16] 1, 3–8
Germany Sven Müller[37] 2
France Kévin Estre[38] 2
Germany Jörg Bergmeister[16] 3
92 France Frédéric Makowiecki[16] All
France Patrick Pilet[5] 1, 3–8
Austria Richard Lietz[38] 2
Germany Wolf Henzler[16] 3
United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing Aston Martin Vantage GTE Aston Martin 4.5 L V8 M 95 Denmark Marco Sørensen[39] 1–6, 8
Denmark Christoffer Nygaard[39] 1–6, 8
Denmark Nicki Thiim[39] 1, 3, 8
97 United Kingdom Darren Turner[5] All
Germany Stefan Mücke[40] 1–4
United Kingdom Robert Bell[40] 2–3
United Kingdom Jonathan Adam[41] 4–8
United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing V8 99 Brazil Fernando Rees[5] All
United Kingdom Alex MacDowall[40] All
New Zealand Richie Stanaway[40] 1–5, 7–8
Germany Stefan Mücke[42] 6

LMGTE Am

[edit]

The field in LMGTE Am features teams which have experience in the WEC. Aston Martin Racing retains their two-car entry, with Paul Dalla Lana and Pedro Lamy's car joined by newcomer Mathias Lauda, and Roald Goethe and Stuart Hall returning to the series for the first time since 2013, adding former FIA GT3 European Champion Francesco Castellacci. AF Corse also remains in the category, downgrading from a two-car entry to a single car for 2015. François Perrodo and Emmanuel Collard move from the departed Prospeed Competition Porsche team to campaign AF Corse's Ferrari alongside Rui Águas. Proton Racing keeps their entry with Christian Ried, Klaus Bachler, and Khaled Al Qubaisi, while a second Porsche is added to the squad for actor Patrick Dempsey alongside Porsche factory driver Patrick Long and Marco Seefried. SMP Racing remains in the championship despite not defending their LMP2 championship titles. Viktor Shaytar moves from the LMP2 program to the team's Ferrari while being joined by newcomer to the series Aleksey Basov and Ferrari factory driver Andrea Bertolini. 2012 LMGTE Am Teams' champions Larbre Compétition return to the series for the first time since 2013, campaigning the first customer Chevrolet Corvette C7.R. Gianluca Roda and Paolo Ruberti join the team after 8 Star Motorsports did not return to the series along with 2014 LMGTE Am Drivers' champion Kristian Poulsen.

Entrant/Team Car Engine Tyre No. Drivers Rounds
France Larbre Compétition Chevrolet Corvette C7.R Chevrolet LT5.5 5.5 L V8 M 50 Italy Gianluca Roda[43] All
Italy Paolo Ruberti[43] All
Denmark Kristian Poulsen[44] 1–5, 8
Denmark Nicolai Sylvest[45] 6–7
Russia SMP Racing Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 Ferrari 4.5 L V8 M 72 Russia Viktor Shaytar[5] All
Russia Aleksey Basov[46] All
Italy Andrea Bertolini[46] All
Germany Dempsey Racing-Proton Porsche 911 RSR Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 M 77 Germany Marco Seefried[47] All
United States Patrick Long[48] All
United States Patrick Dempsey[48] 1–7
Germany Christian Ried[49] 8
Germany Abu Dhabi-Proton Racing 88 United Arab Emirates Khaled Al Qubaisi[47] All
Germany Christian Ried[5] 1–7
Austria Klaus Bachler[47] 1–3, 7–8
New Zealand Earl Bamber[50] 4–6
Italy Marco Mapelli[49] 8
Italy AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 Ferrari 4.5 L V8 M 55 United Kingdom Duncan Cameron[51] 2–3
United Kingdom Alex Mortimer[52] 2–3
Republic of Ireland Matt Griffin[52] 2–3
61 United States Peter Ashley Mann[51] 3
Italy Raffaele Giammaria[36] 3
Italy Matteo Cressoni[36] 3
83 France François Perrodo[35] All
France Emmanuel Collard[35] All
Portugal Rui Águas[35] 1–7
Italy Matteo Cressoni[53] 8
United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing Aston Martin Vantage GTE Aston Martin 4.5 L V8 M 96 United Kingdom Stuart Hall[54] All
Italy Francesco Castellacci[40] All
Germany Roald Goethe[5] 1–4, 8
Denmark Benny Simonsen[55] 5
United Kingdom Liam Griffin[45] 6–7
98 Canada Paul Dalla Lana[56] All
Portugal Pedro Lamy[56] All
Austria Mathias Lauda[56] All

Regulation changes

[edit]

The FIA's World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) approved a series of regulation changes for the World Endurance Championship during December 2014. Tyres are limited at each race weekend, bar Le Mans, for the LMP1 and LMGTE categories: each car is allowed four sets of tyres in practice and six during the race. The LMP2 category retains their limit of three sets in practice and four during the race. Tyre manufacturers are also no longer allowed to refuse a supply program with a team. The qualifying format is also altered for the fourth season in a row. Teams will still be required to run two drivers during the qualifying session, but only their best lap is used in determining the qualifying average; previously each driver's best two laps were averaged. LMP2 and LMGTE Am teams are also required to run at least one amateur driver during the qualifying session. A final regulation change is the elimination of the two LMP1 classes introduced in 2014. Regulations will exist for hybrid and non-hybrid LMP1 cars, but all cars are classified under a single LMP1 category. The LMP1 Private Teams trophies are open to non-hybrid LMP1 cars only.[6]

A second meeting of the WMSC in March 2015 approved further regulation changes. The LMP1 category has limits introduced to control the costs for manufacturers including a restriction on the number of personnel involved in operations, the homologation of only a single hybrid drivetrain design, and a maximum of five engines each car can use over the season, with the exception of new manufacturers allowed seven engines in their debut season. Limits are also placed on the number of days teams in all categories can conduct tests outside of races. An additional ballast weight can be added to cars whose drivers average less than 80 kg (180 lb).[57] Further regulation changes proposed are an alteration to the minimum and maximum drive time allowances in the LMP1 and LMGTE Pro categories and a reduction in the duration of the qualifying session from 25 minutes to 20 due to each team only requiring a minimum of two laps instead of four.[6]

Results and standings

[edit]

Race results

[edit]

The highest finishing competitor entered in the World Endurance Championship is listed below. Invitational entries may have finished ahead of WEC competitors in individual races.

Rnd. Circuit LMP1 Winners LMP2 Winners LMGTE Pro Winners LMGTE Am Winners Report
1 Silverstone Germany No. 7 Audi Sport Team Joest Russia No. 26 G-Drive Racing Italy No. 51 AF Corse United Kingdom No. 98 Aston Martin Racing Results
Germany André Lotterer
Switzerland Marcel Fässler
France Benoît Tréluyer
Russia Roman Rusinov
France Julien Canal
United Kingdom Sam Bird
Italy Gianmaria Bruni
Finland Toni Vilander
Canada Paul Dalla Lana
Portugal Pedro Lamy
Austria Mathias Lauda
2 Spa-Francorchamps Germany No. 7 Audi Sport Team Joest Russia No. 28 G-Drive Racing[N 1] United Kingdom No. 99 Aston Martin Racing V8 United Kingdom No. 98 Aston Martin Racing Results
Germany André Lotterer
Switzerland Marcel Fässler
France Benoît Tréluyer
Colombia Gustavo Yacamán
Mexico Ricardo González
Brazil Pipo Derani
Brazil Fernando Rees
United Kingdom Alex MacDowall
New Zealand Richie Stanaway
Canada Paul Dalla Lana
Portugal Pedro Lamy
Austria Mathias Lauda
3 Le Mans Germany No. 19 Porsche Team Hong Kong No. 47 KCMG Italy No. 71 AF Corse[N 2] Russia No. 72 SMP Racing Results
Germany Nico Hülkenberg
New Zealand Earl Bamber
United Kingdom Nick Tandy
United Kingdom Matthew Howson
United Kingdom Richard Bradley
France Nicholas Lapierre
Italy Davide Rigon
United Kingdom James Calado
Monaco Olivier Beretta
Russia Viktor Shaytar
Russia Aleksey Basov
Italy Andrea Bertolini
4 Nürburgring Germany No. 17 Porsche Team Hong Kong No. 47 KCMG Germany No. 91 Porsche Team Manthey Russia No. 72 SMP Racing Results
Germany Timo Bernhard
Australia Mark Webber
New Zealand Brendon Hartley
United Kingdom Matthew Howson
United Kingdom Richard Bradley
United Kingdom Nick Tandy
Austria Richard Lietz
Denmark Michael Christensen
Russia Viktor Shaytar
Russia Aleksey Basov
Italy Andrea Bertolini
5 Austin Germany No. 17 Porsche Team Russia No. 26 G-Drive Racing Germany No. 91 Porsche Team Manthey Russia No. 72 SMP Racing Results
Germany Timo Bernhard
Australia Mark Webber
New Zealand Brendon Hartley
Russia Roman Rusinov
France Julien Canal
United Kingdom Sam Bird
Austria Richard Lietz
Denmark Michael Christensen
Russia Viktor Shaytar
Russia Aleksey Basov
Italy Andrea Bertolini
6 Fuji Germany No. 17 Porsche Team Russia No. 26 G-Drive Racing Italy No. 51 AF Corse Germany No. 77 Dempsey Racing-Proton Results
Germany Timo Bernhard
Australia Mark Webber
New Zealand Brendon Hartley
Russia Roman Rusinov
France Julien Canal
United Kingdom Sam Bird
Italy Gianmaria Bruni
Finland Toni Vilander
United States Patrick Dempsey
United States Patrick Long
Germany Marco Seefried
7 Shanghai Germany No. 17 Porsche Team France No. 36 Signatech Alpine Germany No. 91 Porsche Team Manthey Italy No. 83 AF Corse Results
Germany Timo Bernhard
Australia Mark Webber
New Zealand Brendon Hartley
France Nelson Panciatici
France Paul-Loup Chatin
France Tom Dillmann
Austria Richard Lietz
Denmark Michael Christensen
France François Perrodo
France Emmanuel Collard
Portugal Rui Águas
8 Bahrain Germany No. 18 Porsche Team Russia No. 26 G-Drive Racing Germany No. 92 Porsche Team Manthey United Kingdom No. 98 Aston Martin Racing Results
Germany Marc Lieb
France Romain Dumas
Switzerland Neel Jani
Russia Roman Rusinov
France Julien Canal
United Kingdom Sam Bird
France Frédéric Makowiecki
France Patrick Pilet
Canada Paul Dalla Lana
Portugal Pedro Lamy
Austria Mathias Lauda
Sources:[58]
  1. ^ The LMP2 class winner for Spa-Francorchamps was the No. 38 Jota Sport invitational entry. As it was not a full-season WEC entrant, the points for the win were awarded to the No. 28 G-Drive Racing entry.[58][59]
  2. ^ The LMGTE Pro class winner for Le Mans was the No. 64 Corvette Racing – GM invitational entry. As it was not a full-season WEC entrant, the points for the win were awarded to the No. 71 AF Corse entry.[58]

Entries were required to complete the timed race as well as to complete 70% of the overall winning car's race distance in order to earn championship points. A single bonus point was awarded to the team and all drivers of the pole position car for each category in qualifying. For the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the race result points allocation was doubled. Furthermore, a race must complete three laps under green flag conditions in order for championship points to be awarded.[60]

Drivers' Championships

[edit]

Five titles were offered to drivers in the 2015 season. The World Championship was reserved for LMP1 and LMP2 drivers while the World Cup for GT Drivers was available for drivers in the LMGTE categories. Further, three FIA Endurance Trophies were also awarded to drivers in the LMP2 and LMGTE Am categories as well as privateers in the LMP1 category.[60]

Points systems
Duration 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th Other Pole
6 Hours 25 18 15 12 10 8 6 4 2 1 0.5 1
24 Hours 50 36 30 24 20 16 12 8 4 2 1 1
Source:[60]

World Endurance Drivers' Championship

[edit]
Pos. Driver Team SIL
United Kingdom
SPA
Belgium
LMS
France
NÜR
Germany
COA
United States
FUJ
Japan
SHA
China
BHR
Bahrain
Total
points
1 Germany Timo Bernhard Germany Porsche Team Ret 3 2 1 1 1 1 5 166
1 Australia Mark Webber Germany Porsche Team Ret 3 2 1 1 1 1 5 166
1 New Zealand Brendon Hartley Germany Porsche Team Ret 3 2 1 1 1 1 5 166
2 Germany André Lotterer Germany Audi Sport Team Joest 1 1 3 3 2 3 3 2 161
2 Switzerland Marcel Fässler Germany Audi Sport Team Joest 1 1 3 3 2 3 3 2 161
2 France Benoît Tréluyer Germany Audi Sport Team Joest 1 1 3 3 2 3 3 2 161
3 Germany Marc Lieb Germany Porsche Team 2 2 5 2 12 2 2 1 138.5
3 France Romain Dumas Germany Porsche Team 2 2 5 2 12 2 2 1 138.5
3 Switzerland Neel Jani Germany Porsche Team 2 2 5 2 12 2 2 1 138.5
4 France Loïc Duval Germany Audi Sport Team Joest 5 7 4 4 3 4 4 6 99
4 Brazil Lucas di Grassi Germany Audi Sport Team Joest 5 7 4 4 3 4 4 6 99
4 United Kingdom Oliver Jarvis Germany Audi Sport Team Joest 5 7 4 4 3 4 4 6 99
5 United Kingdom Anthony Davidson Japan Toyota Racing 3 8 8 5 4 5 6 4 79
5 Switzerland Sébastien Buemi Japan Toyota Racing 3 8 8 5 4 5 6 4 79
6 Austria Alexander Wurz Japan Toyota Racing 4 5 6 6 Ret 6 5 3 79
6 United Kingdom Mike Conway Japan Toyota Racing 4 5 6 6 Ret 6 5 3 79
6 France Stéphane Sarrazin Japan Toyota Racing 4 5 6 6 Ret 6 5 3 79
7 Japan Kazuki Nakajima Japan Toyota Racing 3 WD 8 5 4 5 6 4 75
8 United Kingdom Nick Tandy Hong Kong KCMG 9 7 Ret 11 8 70.5
Germany Porsche Team 6 1
9 New Zealand Earl Bamber Germany Porsche Team 6 1 58
9 Germany Nico Hülkenberg Germany Porsche Team 6 1 58
10 Russia Roman Rusinov Russia G-Drive Racing 6 17 10 8 5 9 10 7 33.5
10 France Julien Canal Russia G-Drive Racing 6 17 10 8 5 9 10 7 33.5
10 United Kingdom Sam Bird Russia G-Drive Racing 6 17 10 8 5 9 10 7 33.5
11 United Kingdom Matthew Howson Hong Kong KCMG 9 11 9 7 6 Ret 11 8 25
11 United Kingdom Richard Bradley Hong Kong KCMG 9 11 9 7 6 Ret 11 8 25
12 Portugal Filipe Albuquerque Germany Audi Sport Team Joest 4 7 24
12 Italy Marco Bonanomi Germany Audi Sport Team Joest 4 7 24
12 Germany René Rast Germany Audi Sport Team Joest 4 7 24
Pos. Driver Team SIL
United Kingdom
SPA
Belgium
LMS
France
NÜR
Germany
COA
United States
FUJ
Japan
SHA
China
BHR
Bahrain
Total
points
Source:[58]
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver Second place
Bronze Third place
Green Points finish
Blue Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple Retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)

Bold - Pole position

World Endurance Cup for GT Drivers

[edit]
Pos. Driver Team SIL
United Kingdom
SPA
Belgium
LMS
France
NÜR
Germany
COA
United States
FUJ
Japan
SHA
China
BHR
Bahrain
Total
points
1 Austria Richard Lietz Germany Porsche Team Manthey 2 2 7 1 1 4 1 5 145
2 Italy Gianmaria Bruni Italy AF Corse 1 4 4 14 7 1 2 2 131.5
2 Finland Toni Vilander Italy AF Corse 1 4 4 14 7 1 2 2 131.5
3 Denmark Michael Christensen Germany Porsche Team Manthey 2 7 1 1 4 1 5 127
4 Italy Davide Rigon Italy AF Corse 3 7 2 3 3 3 4 6 123
4 United Kingdom James Calado Italy AF Corse 3 7 2 3 3 3 4 6 123
5 France Frédéric Makowiecki Germany Porsche Team Manthey 7 2 Ret 2 2 2 3 1 118
6 France Patrick Pilet Germany Porsche Team Manthey 7 Ret 2 2 2 3 1 100
7 Brazil Fernando Rees United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing V8 6 1 9 5 4 7 5 7 84
7 United Kingdom Alex MacDowall United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing V8 6 1 9 5 4 7 5 7 84
8 Denmark Christoffer Nygaard United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing 4 6 6 4 5 5 4 81
8 Denmark Marco Sørensen United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing 4 6 6 4 5 5 4 81
9 New Zealand Richie Stanaway United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing V8 6 1 9 5 4 5 7 78
10 United Kingdom Darren Turner United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing 5 5 Ret 6 6 6 6 3 67
11 Russia Aleksey Basov Russia SMP Racing 10 10 1 7 8 13 9 12 65
11 Russia Viktor Shaytar Russia SMP Racing 10 10 1 7 8 13 9 12 65
11 Italy Andrea Bertolini Russia SMP Racing 10 10 1 7 8 13 9 12 65
12 United Kingdom Jonathan Adam United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing 6 6 6 6 3 47
Pos. Driver Team SIL
United Kingdom
SPA
Belgium
LMS
France
NÜR
Germany
COA
United States
FUJ
Japan
SHA
China
BHR
Bahrain
Total
points
Source:[58]

LMP1 Private Teams Drivers' Trophy

[edit]
Pos. Driver Team SIL
United Kingdom
SPA
Belgium
LMS
France
NÜR
Germany
COA
United States
FUJ
Japan
SHA
China
BHR
Bahrain
Total
points
1 France Nicolas Prost Switzerland Rebellion Racing 2 2 3 1 1 3 134
1 Switzerland Mathias Beche Switzerland Rebellion Racing 2 2 3 1 1 3 134
2 Switzerland Alexandre Imperatori Switzerland Rebellion Racing 1 Ret 2 3 Ret 1 108
2 Austria Dominik Kraihamer Switzerland Rebellion Racing 1 Ret 2 3 Ret 1 108
3 Switzerland Simon Trummer Austria Team ByKolles Ret Ret EX 1 1 2 2 2 104
3 Germany Pierre Kaffer Austria Team ByKolles EX 1 1 2 2 2 104
4 Germany Daniel Abt Switzerland Rebellion Racing 1 Ret 2 3 83
5 Germany Nick Heidfeld Switzerland Rebellion Racing 2 2 3 69
6 Switzerland Mathéo Tuscher Switzerland Rebellion Racing Ret 1 25
Source:[58]

FIA Endurance Trophy for LMP2 Drivers

[edit]
Pos. Driver Team SIL
United Kingdom
SPA
Belgium
LMS
France
NÜR
Germany
COA
United States
FUJ
Japan
SHA
China
BHR
Bahrain
Total
points
1 Russia Roman Rusinov Russia G-Drive Racing 1 9 2 2 1 1 2 1 178
1 France Julien Canal Russia G-Drive Racing 1 9 2 2 1 1 2 1 178
1 United Kingdom Sam Bird Russia G-Drive Racing 1 9 2 2 1 1 2 1 178
2 United Kingdom Matthew Howson Hong Kong KCMG 4 3 1 1 2 Ret 3 2 155
2 United Kingdom Richard Bradley Hong Kong KCMG 4 3 1 1 2 Ret 3 2 155
3 Colombia Gustavo Yacamán Russia G-Drive Racing 2 1 3 3 3 3 Ret 3 134
3 Mexico Ricardo González Russia G-Drive Racing 2 1 3 3 3 3 Ret 3 134
3 Brazil Pipo Derani Russia G-Drive Racing 2 1 3 3 3 3 Ret 3 134
4 France Nelson Panciatici France Signatech Alpine Ret 4 Ret 5 6 2 1 4 86
4 France Paul-Loup Chatin France Signatech Alpine Ret 4 Ret 5 6 2 1 4 86
5 France Nicolas Lapierre Hong Kong KCMG 3 1 2 84
6 United Kingdom Nick Tandy Hong Kong KCMG 4 1 Ret 3 2 71
7 United Kingdom Oliver Webb Switzerland Team SARD Morand 2 Ret 4 5 5 4 6 70
7 France Pierre Ragues Switzerland Team SARD Morand 2 Ret 4 5 5 4 6 70
Source:[58]

FIA Endurance Trophy for LMGTE Am Drivers

[edit]
Pos. Driver Team SIL
United Kingdom
SPA
Belgium
LMS
France
NÜR
Germany
COA
United States
FUJ
Japan
SHA
China
BHR
Bahrain
Total
points
1 Russia Viktor Shaytar Russia SMP Racing 3 3 1 1 1 6 3 5 165
1 Russia Aleksey Basov Russia SMP Racing 3 3 1 1 1 6 3 5 165
1 Italy Andrea Bertolini Russia SMP Racing 3 3 1 1 1 6 3 5 165
2 France François Perrodo Italy AF Corse 2 2 3 3 3 3 1 4 148
2 France Emmanuel Collard Italy AF Corse 2 2 3 3 3 3 1 4 148
3 Canada Paul Dalla Lana United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing 1 1 NC 2 5 2 2 1 144
3 Portugal Pedro Lamy United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing 1 1 NC 2 5 2 2 1 144
3 Austria Mathias Lauda United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing 1 1 NC 2 5 2 2 1 144
4 Portugal Rui Águas Italy AF Corse 2 2 3 3 3 3 1 136
5 United States Patrick Long Germany Dempsey Racing-Proton 6 5 2 4 4 1 4 3 131
5 Germany Marco Seefried Germany Dempsey Racing-Proton 6 5 2 4 4 1 4 3 131
6 United States Patrick Dempsey Germany Dempsey Racing-Proton 6 5 2 4 4 1 4 116
7 United Arab Emirates Khaled Al Qubaisi Germany Abu Dhabi-Proton Racing 5 4 Ret 6 2 5 7 2 82
8 Germany Christian Ried Germany Abu Dhabi-Proton Racing 5 4 Ret 6 2 5 7 79
Germany Dempsey Racing-Proton 3
9 United Kingdom Stuart Hall United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing 4 6 Ret 7 6 7 6 7 54
9 Italy Francesco Castellacci United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing 4 6 Ret 7 6 7 6 7 54
Source:[58]

Manufacturers' Championships

[edit]

Two manufacturers' titles were contested in the 2015 FIA WEC, one for LMPs and one for LMGTEs. The World Endurance Championship for Manufacturers was only open to manufacturer entries in the LMP1 category, while the World Endurance Cup for GT Manufacturers allowed all entries from registered manufacturers in LMGTE Pro and LMGTE Am to participate. The two top finishing cars from each manufacturer earned points toward their total.[60]

World Endurance Manufacturers' Championship

[edit]
Pos. Manufacturer SIL
United Kingdom
SPA
Belgium
LMS
France
NÜR
Germany
COA
United States
FUJ
Japan
SHA
China
BHR
Bahrain
Total
points
1 Germany Porsche 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 344
Ret 3 2 2 5 2 2 5
2 Germany Audi 1 1 3 3 2 3 3 2 264
5 5 4 4 3 4 4 6
3 Japan Toyota 3 4 6 5 4 5 5 3 164
4 6 8 6 Ret 6 6 4
4 Japan Nissan NC 0
Ret
Source:[58]

World Endurance Cup for GT Manufacturers

[edit]
Pos. Manufacturer SIL
United Kingdom
SPA
Belgium
LMS
France
NÜR
Germany
COA
United States
FUJ
Japan
SHA
China
BHR
Bahrain
Total
points
1 Germany Porsche 2 2 3 1 1 2 1 1 290
7 3 7 2 2 4 3 5
2 Italy Ferrari 1 4 1 3 3 1 2 2 286
3 7 2 7 7 3 4 6
3 United Kingdom Aston Martin 4 1 6 4 4 5 5 3 192
5 5 8 5 5 6 6 4
Source:[58]

Teams' Championships

[edit]

All categories awarded a team trophy for each individual entry, although LMP1 was limited to entries not from a manufacturer.[60]

FIA Endurance Trophy for Private LMP1 Teams

[edit]
Pos. Car Team SIL
United Kingdom
SPA
Belgium
LMS
France
NÜR
Germany
COA
United States
FUJ
Japan
SHA
China
BHR
Bahrain
Total
points
1 12 Switzerland Rebellion Racing 2 2 3 1 1 3 134
2 13 Switzerland Rebellion Racing 1 Ret 2 3 Ret 1 108
3 4 Austria Team ByKolles Ret Ret EX 1 1 2 2 2 104
Source:[58]

FIA Endurance Trophy for LMP2 Teams

[edit]
G-Drive Racing won the Endurance Trophy for LMP2 Teams with its No 26 Ligier JS P2 - Nissan
Pos. Car Team SIL
United Kingdom
SPA
Belgium
LMS
France
NÜR
Germany
COA
United States
FUJ
Japan
SHA
China
BHR