A star-studded line-up and big names from the world of motor racing for the FIA WEC’s debut at the Circuit

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is gearing up for a historic weekend with the arrival of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC). From 16 to 18 October, the 6 Hours of Barcelona will bring together 35 cars – 17 Hypercars and 18 LMGT3s – from 14 manufacturers, in an event that will allow spectators to experience the spectacle of the World Endurance Championship first-hand. The race will also take place at a crucial stage in the title race, as the penultimate round of the season.

The entry list confirms a top-class line-up, both due to the presence of some of the automotive industry’s leading manufacturers and the names set to take the wheel. Ferrari, Toyota, BMW, Cadillac, Aston Martin, Alpine, Genesis and Peugeot will compete in the Hypercar category, whilst the LMGT3 class will round off the show with models from nine manufacturers and a fierce battle between production-derived cars.

A line-up with a Formula 1 past and a present among the elite of endurance racing

One of the major attractions of the 6 Hours of Barcelona will be the chance to see in action numerous drivers who have competed in Formula 1 and are currently part of the leading endurance racing programmes.

Notable names amongst them include Kevin Magnussen, at the wheel of a BMW; Robert Kubica and Antonio Giovinazzi, driving for Ferrari; Kamui Kobayashi, Nyck de Vries, Sébastien Buemi and Brendon Hartley, who make up the Toyota line-up; Paul di Resta, driving for Peugeot; and Sébastien Bourdais, driving for Cadillac.

The grid will also feature leading endurance specialists such as André Lotterer, Earl Bamber and Mike Conway, who have an outstanding track record in races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This combination of experience, talent and drivers from different generations is one of the championship’s major attractions.

Among them, Sébastien Buemi is set for a particularly significant weekend, as he becomes the first driver to reach 100 starts in the FIA WEC. The Swiss driver will also arrive as the drivers’ championship leader alongside Brendon Hartley and Ryō Hirakawa.

Three local drivers for a special event

The championship’s debut in Catalonia will feature three drivers with particularly strong ties to the region. Miguel Molina, Dani Juncadella and Álex Riberas will compete in front of their home crowd in a race that will hold special significance for their respective careers.

Molina, a native of Girona and winner of the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans, will be flying the colours of Ferrari at the wheel of the #50 499P, which he will share with Antonio Fuoco and Nicklas Nielsen. The Catalan driver will thus return to the circuit where he took his first steps in motor racing and began to build his sporting career.

For his part, Dani Juncadella will be competing for Genesis Magma Racing, a team making its debut this season in the Hypercar category. The Barcelona-born driver will once again be racing on a circuit that has brought him much joy throughout his career, including victory in the LMP2 class of the European Le Mans Series in 2025.

Also taking part will be Álex Riberas, who will be racing for Aston Martin at the wheel of the Valkyrie, one of the most unique cars in the top category. All three will be looking to make the most of the opportunity to secure a strong result on home soil.

Barcelona comes into play in the title race

Beyond the appeal of the entrants, the 6 Hours of Barcelona will be of particular importance in determining the outcome of the championship. Toyota arrives as the leading manufacturer, ahead of BMW and Ferrari, and still has a mathematical chance of being crowned champion at the Circuit.

The drivers’ standings are also very close. The #8 Toyota driven by Buemi, Hartley and Hirakawa holds a ten-point lead over the #7 Toyota driven by Kobayashi, Conway and De Vries, whilst BMW will be looking to keep their title hopes alive ahead of the season’s final round.

The LMGT3 class could also crown a champion in Barcelona. TF Sport’s #33 Corvette tops the standings, with Heart of Racing’s #27 Aston Martin among its main challengers. Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, Lexus, Ford, McLaren and Mercedes-AMG will join Corvette and Aston Martin in a class that promises to deliver plenty of on-track battles.

Much more than just a six-hour race

The FIA WEC’s first visit to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will give the public the chance to discover a sport in which speed is just one aspect of the competition. Fuel and tyre strategies, driver changes, pit stops and the mix of Hypercars and LMGT3s on the track all form part of a spectacle that unfolds over six hours without interruption.

The racing programme will begin on Friday 16 October with free practice sessions. On Saturday, the qualifying sessions and Hyperpole will take place, whilst on Sunday 18 October, at 12.00, the 6 Hours of Barcelona will get underway.

Fans will be able to round off the experience with the activities planned in the Fan Zone, located behind the Main Grandstand, which will feature a stage and a variety of entertainment options, accessible with any ticket. There will also be opportunities to get even closer to the action through access to the paddock, the Pit Walk and autograph sessions, depending on the type of ticket or activity purchased.

The excitement surrounding this first edition is already evident in ticket sales, with some categories already sold out, such as the Sunday ticket with paddock access. The Circuit is thus set to host an unprecedented event that rounds off an exceptional calendar alongside Formula 1 and MotoGP, offering fans a new opportunity to enjoy top-level international motorsport.

Access to the Circuit

Access to the Circuit will be via Gate 3 on Friday (10.30 a.m.–7.30 p.m.) and via Gates 2 and 3 from Saturday (8.20 a.m.–7.30 p.m.) to Sunday (7.00 a.m.–7.30 p.m.). Box Office 3 will also be open for any enquiries. The grandstands open for spectators are the Main Grandstand, F, N, G, T10 (for those with paddock access) and the Pelouse Privilege area. The designated car park will be H2 (for spectators, season ticket holders and hospitality guests).

Tickets available at www.circuitcat.com