It is not only Formula 1, Formula 2 and Formula 3 which kick their seasons this weekend as the World Endurance Championship also begins with its opening round in Qatar.
The first WEC event to be held at the Losail circuit, the 1,812km of Qatar – a reference to the country’s national day on 18th December – will be the first of eight rounds in this year’s championship, including the Le Mans 24 Hours in June.
This year, there are more Hypercar entries than ever before in the championship. A total of 19 Hypercars will be competing in the opening round this weekend – eight more than did the same in Sebring last season.
After the pre-season test at Losail has been completed, all nine Hypercar models and 19 teams that will be racing this weekend have been seen at the Qatar circuit. Get acquainted with all of them ahead of this weekend’s race.
Cadillac
Cadillac will compete another full season in the WEC for 2024. Alongside a full season entry of the number two car of Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn and Sebastien Bourdais, there will also be two further Cadillacs at Le Mans; the number three car – which Bourdais will move to with multiple IndyCar champion Scott Dixon and Renger van der Zande – and the number 311 Whelen Cadillac of Luis Felipe Derani, Jack Aitken and an unannounced driver, which currently competes in the IMSA series.
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Porsche
![Matt Campbell / Michael Christensen / Frederic Makowiecki, Porsche 963, Losail International Circuit, 2024](https://vcpmotorsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/1709157908_629_Bumper-WEC-hypercar-field-for-2024-in-action-at-test.jpg)
There will be no fewer than five Porsche 963s competing this weekend in Qatar – the most of any hypercar model in the field. Penske and Jota will race two each, while Proton are the entrant for the fifth.
Multiple Le Mans winner Andre Lotterer will pilot one the number six car with team mates Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor, while Formula 1 world champion of 2009, Jenson Button, will lead the number 38 Jota Porsche with Philip Hanson and Oliver Rasmussen. Harry Tincknell, Neel Jani and Julien Andlauer will share the sole Proton Porsche.
![Andre Lotterer / Kevin Estre / Laurens Vanthooer, Porsche 963, Losail International Circuit, 2024](https://vcpmotorsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/1709157908_730_Bumper-WEC-hypercar-field-for-2024-in-action-at-test.jpg)
![Will Stevens / Callum Ilott / Norman Nato, Jota, Porsche 963, Losail International Circuit, 2024](https://vcpmotorsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/1709157909_971_Bumper-WEC-hypercar-field-for-2024-in-action-at-test.jpg)
![Jenson Button / Philip Hanson / Oliver Rasmussen, Jota, Porsche 963, Losail International Circuit, 2024](https://vcpmotorsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/1709157909_43_Bumper-WEC-hypercar-field-for-2024-in-action-at-test.jpg)
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