The final installment of the 2024 FIM EWC in France.

It’s the final round which has seen the most demanding championship on the planet visit the legendary Le Mans, Spa and Suzuka circuits, the 2024 FIM EWC concludes this weekend with the 24 hour Bol d’or taking place at circuit de Paul Ricard in France.

A staggering 45 teams are aiming to qualify and line up on Saturday’s grid, with 15 competing in the Superbike class, 28 in Superstock and a further 2 teams running ‘experimental regulation’ entries. There are two separate FIM world title classifications: the FIM Endurance World Championship for Formula EWC teams and manufacturers (the Superbike class) and the FIM Endurance World Cup for Superstock teams and manufacturers.

How does the Championship stand, what’s at stake? In the Superbike class, 65 points are still available to be claimed in the championship battle meaning four teams start the weekend with a mathematical chance of taking home Endurance racing’s most prestigious accolade – the FIM Endurance World Championship for Teams.

Defending champions Yart Yamaha arrive in France on 116 points, with a slender 6-point advantage over 2021 Champions Yoshimura Sert Suzuki. With 5 points available to the team that qualifies on pole-position it’s possible there could only be a single point separating the two antagonists when the finale gets underway at 2pm (BST) Saturday 14th September.

BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, runners up in 2021 face an uphill task to catch the two teams in front of them as they begin the weekend on 72 points – 44 points behind the leaders. In fourth place Tati Team Beringer Racing Honda will have their sights set on closing down the BMW team in third position, they currently have 61 points, 11 points behind BMW and 55 points a-drift of the series leaders. In the Superstock class, points are awarded identically to the Superbikes meaning that 65 points are still up for grabs in this championship too.

National Motos Honda currently have a 53 point lead and sit on 108 points prior to the final weekend of the season, it would therefore take a series of dramatic and unfortunate events for the French team to not secure their maiden World Championship – the FIM Endurance World Cup for teams. If disaster does strike the championship leaders four further teams are in mathematical contention to pick up the crown, Second placed 2016 World Cup winners 3ART Best Of Bike Yamaha are best placed to do so with 55 points. One point behind the Yamaha team with 54 points are Chromeburner-RAC 41-Honda, if they can end the weekend in the top 3 of the championship this will be their best season to date. With just two points separating second to fourth in the championship, Team ÉTOILE BMW are only a point behind third in their debut season. With only 65 points remaining, fifth placed TEAM AVIOBIKE BY M2 REVO Aprilia face an almost impossible task.

The Italian team are 65 points behind the championship leaders meaning the Italian team not only need to score maximum points, they require National Motos Honda to fail to score any points and the three other teams above them to all fail to reach more than 108 points. Although National Motos Honda appear to have one hand on the 2024 World cup, the battle is wide open for second place – the remaining 27 Superstock teams entered have a chance of finishing runner up in the series. How many riders are in a team?In the Superbike class each Formula EWC team consists of three riders with a fourth rider nominated as a reserve.

All riders must qualify and have the opportunity to practice during the day and at night. In the Superstock class teams can elect to run with either three or four riders. All riders must qualify and have the opportunity to practice during the day and at night.To be eligible to race all teams and riders in both classes must complete a lap time within 108% of the fastest lap in their category in at least one free practice or qualifying session.How is it determined who rides in each session? When is practice and qualifying?On Wednesday morning the FIM released the official entry list, each team has submitted their four riders and which colour armband each rider will wear. To enable better recognition each rider is allocated a pair of coloured retro-reflective armbands, one of which is fitted with a timing transponder. The armbands are coloured blue, red, yellow and green. The armbands must be worn in all sessions and will determine who competes in each session.

In the Superbike class green armbands will be worn by the reserve riders, however in the Superstock class as teams are allowed to have four riders race this does not apply to them. The first session of the weekend is at 13.30 BST on Thursday afternoon, this is a timed two-hour free practice session where all four riders from each team are eligible to participate. Following this session, four 20-minute qualifying sessions with one rider from each team participating in each session is scheduled to take place – which rider competes in each session is determined by which colour armband they are wearing. Completing the day’s running is a 1-hour free practice session where all four riders may participate.On Friday morning each rider will have a second 20-minute qualifying session, each rider’s participation will again be determined by which coloured armband they are wearing.

A full schedule of Thursday and Friday’s on track action can be seen below.Thursday Schedule (BST)13h30-15h30: Free Practice16h30-16h50: First Qualifying (Blue Rider)17h00-17h20: First Qualifying (Yellow Rider)17h30-17h50: First Qualifying (Red Rider)18h00-18h20: First Qualifying (Green Rider)19h30-20h30: Night Free PracticeFriday Schedule (BST)08h00-08h20: Second Qualifying (Blue Rider)08h30-08h50: Second Qualifying (Yellow Rider)09h00-09h20: Second Qualifying (Red Rider)09h30-09h50: Second Qualifying (Green Rider)How is the grid formed?

The qualifying sessions from Thursday and Friday are combined to determine each riders fastest lap time. The average time of the fastest lap from the fastest two riders from each team are used to determine the grid (the results of the third and fourth fastest rider are not taken into account). For the avoidance of confusion, if a team’s blue rider posted a fastest lap of 1m35.00, yellow rider 1m37.00, red rider 1m40.00 and green rider 1m45.00, the average lap time would be 1m36.00 as red and green’s lap times would be discounted leaving the average lap time of blue and yellow.

How can I spot the difference between Superbike and Superstock bikes?Formula EWC bikes use a black number plate background and white headlamps, Superstock bikes use a red number plate background and yellow headlamps. Teams competing under the ‘experimental’ regulations compete with a green number plate background and yellow headlamps. Machines in the Experimental category appear in the general classification of the event but are not classified in the World Endurance Championship. They are only admitted to the start after deliberation by the Race Selection Committee, which selects the machine for its technical and innovative interest. This category can also include electrical machines.The number plates of all bikes are electroluminescent to make bikes easier to identify at night.How are points awarded?

The first set of points will be awarded following the completion of Friday’s qualifying session, in both the Superbike and Superstock classes 5 points will be awarded to the team that qualifies in pole position. Second place will receive 4 points, third 3 points, fourth 2 points and fifth 1 point.The next allocation of points is scheduled to be awarded on Saturday at 10pm BST, this marks the 8-hour point of the 24-hour race and those positioned in the top 10 of both categories are in line for points. The team in first will receive 10 points, second will receive 9 points, running all the way down to the team in tenth who will receive 1 point.At 6am BST on Sunday morning the race is scheduled to complete its 16th hour, this is where the next points will be awarded. Identically to the points awarded at the 8-hour mark, the top 10 in both categories will receive points.

The team in first will again receive 10 points, second will receive 9 points, running all the way down to the team in tenth who will again receive 1 point.The 24-hour race will end at approximately 2pm BST on Sunday afternoon, with the winner of both categories claiming 40 points. The top 20 finishers in both categories will receive points, the full break down of points is as follows; 1st = 40 points; 2nd = 33 points; 3rd = 28 points; 4th = 24 points; 5th = 21 points; 6th = 19 points; 7th = 17 points; 8th = 15 points; 9th = 13 points; 10th = 11 points; 11th = 10 points; 12th = 9 points; 13th = 8 points; 14th = 7 points; 15th = 6 points; 16th = 5 points; 17th = 4 points; 18th = 3 points; 19th = 2 points; 20th = 1 point.To be included in the results, a team must have completed 75 per cent of the laps recorded by the winner in their class. They must have also crossed the finish line on the racetrack within five minutes of the winner having done so.

The main contenders – Who’s riding for who?We take a closer look at the teams still in contention for the World Championship and look at who is riding for who.In the Superbike class, championship leaders Yart Yamaha will run an all European quartet of riders consisting of Italian – Niccolo Canepa, German – Marvin Fritz, Czech Karel Hanika and Swiss Robin Mulhauser. The team is full of experience and quality throughout, 36 year old Canepa has competed in Motogp, Moto2, MotoE, World Superbikes and World Supersport as-well as winning the Superstock 1000 championship in 2007. 31 year old Fritz also has world championship experience away from the Endurance series, competing in four Grand Prix in the 125cc class between 2008-2011 taking a best result of 14th in the 2009 German GP. The German also competed in 6 World Superbikes races in 2022 and has previously won both the German Superbike and Supersport championships. 28 year old Hanika won the 2013 Redbull MotoGP Rookies Cup, before competing in Moto3 from 2014-2016 achieving eight top ten results with a best finish of 7th in the Argentinian Grand Prix in 2015. Prior to competing in Endurance racing, 32 Year old Mulhauser competed in Moto2 from 2014-2016 achieving a best result of 13th at the Sachsenring in 2016. The Swiss rider then competed in World Supersport in 2017 claiming a best result of 10th place in Thailand – he will act as reserve rider this weekend and be a reliable pair of hands if called upon.Yoshimura Sert Suzuki are Yart Yamaha’s closest challengers and will be hoping that their quartet, featuring former grand prix rider Dan Linfoot will be able to overhaul the 6 point deficit in the Championship race.

2023 British Superstock 1000 runner-up Linfoot competed in the 250cc Grand Prix Championship in 2006 and 2007 scoring a best result of 9th in his home grand prix at Donington Park in 2007. The 36 year old competed in the European Superstock 600 championship in 2008 taking 2 wins on his way to 5th in the championship. The Yorkshireman also competed in British Superbikes from 2009-2022 scoring points every season, taking two race wins and finishing a best of 4th in the Championship in 2016. Alongside Linfoot are a duo of French multiple world champions, 36 year old Gregg Black who was born in Derby in England but identifies as French after moving to France when he was 4 years old and 35 year old Étienne Masson.

In 2014 Black and Masson both won their first World Championship title, winning the Superstock Motorcycle Endurance World Championship alongside compatriot Baptiste Guittet. Masson graduated to the Superbike class in 2015, winning the FIM World Championship in 2015, 2016 and 2020. Black has two World Championships of his own in the Superbike class, partnering Masson to success in 2020 before successfully defending the title in 2021. The fourth rider and registered reserve in the team for this weekend is Japanese rider Cocoro Atsumi, the 28 year old competed in this years Suzuka 8 hour for the squad and scored his maiden Superbike podium partnering Linfoot and former Moto3 World Champion Albert Arenas.BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team face an uphill task to take home their maiden World Championship and that task has become even more difficult with the news that their number one rider, Former MotoGP rider and World Superbike champion Sylvain Guintoli will be absent from the season finale after posting this update on his social media platforms; ‘’ I am devastated to say that our youngest son has been diagnosed with cancer. Our little boy is fighting like a champ’ and our family is united to support him. Unfortunately this means I will miss the last World Endurance Championship race.’’Everybody at Shortshift news extends their well wishes and sympathy to the Guintoli family at this difficult time and hopes for a positive update in the near future.

Leading the German team in Guintoli’s absence is 2018 Superstock 1000 Champion and winner of the 2023 Asian road racing Championship Markus Reiterberger. The 30 year old German also competed in the World Superbike Championship in 2016, 2017 and 2019 achieving a career best result of 5th in Thailand in 2016 and a season best overall finish of 14th in 2019. Ukrainian Illya Mykhalchyk secured his fourth German Superbike title last weekend at the Nürburgring and will be hoping that form carries over into the Endurance Championship as he partners Reiterberger in the BMW Motorrad team. The 28 year old has also competed in the 2016 World Supersport season ending the year in 15th place with a best result of 6th in Assen.

In 2022 while Michael Van der mark was injured, Mykhalchyk competed in the Aragon, Misano and Donington Park World Superbikes rounds scoring a best result of 8th place and scoring 10 points in total. Completing their line-up is Estonian Hannes Soomer, the 26 year old competed against Mykhalchyk at the Nurburgring and currently sits fifth in the German championship with one round remaining. The Baltic Bullett competed in 92 World Supersport races between 2015 and 2022 securing 3 podiums in the 2020 season on route to claiming 9th in the Championship, in 2023 the Estonian made his WorldSuperbike debut for MIE Honda, competing in 6 races and earning a single point with a 15th placed finish in Magny-Cours.Tati Team Beringer Racing Honda are the final team that can still win this years Superbike Championship and they will field 34 year old, 2019 World Supersport Champion Randy Krummenacher. Aswell as his 2019 Championship the experienced Swiss rider has achieved podium finishes in both MotoE and 125CC in a long career, while also taking top 10 results in Moto2 and World Superbikes.

Partnering Krummenacher will be French duo Corentin Perolari and Hugo Clere. Perolari will be gleaming with confidence after finishing 7th in race 2 as a wild card in last weekends World Supersport round at Magny-Cours, the Frenchman previously competed in World Supersport full time in 2020 and achieved a 3rd placed finish at Phillip Island on route to 10th in the Championship. Clere’s only other World Championship experience other than World Endurance racing saw him qualify 30th for the Valencian Moto2 GP in 2016, but the Frenchman retired from the race. From 2012-2015 the 30 year old competed in the European Superstock 600 championship, his best season was 2015 where he finished 10th in the Championship.

In 2016 Clere won the French Supersport Championship.Final swansong for CanepaYart Yamaha’s Niccolo Canepa’s illustrious racing career will conclude when the chequered flag falls on Sunday afternoon and the Italian will be hoping to add one more title to his list of accolades. Canepa has been competing in the World Endurance Championship since 2016 and in 2017 became the first ever Italian to win the Championship. The 36 year old is now a two time World champion having taken the title last season and has a very real chance of ending his career as a 3x world champion on Sunday. As well as his two world championships, the Italian is a member of an exclusive group of riders to have won all three of the sport’s 24-hour races at Le Mans, Paul Ricard and Spa-Francorchamps. Prior to competing in Endurance racing the then 17 year old burst onto the International scene in 2005 competing in the final 3 rounds of the World Supersport series for Lighthouse Kawasaki where he would score his best result and first world championship point securing 15th place in his home round at Imola.

In 2006 the Italian finished runner-up to Xavier Simeon in the European Superstock 600 championship before moving up to the FIM European Superstock 1000 class in 2007 and taking the title by 4 points over compatriot Claudio Corti. After spending 2008 as official testrider for Ducati’s MotoGP project, Canepa moved into a full time race seat in MotoGP with Pramac Ducati for the 2009 season where he finished 16th in the championship taking a best result of 8th place at the British Grand Prix at Donington Park. For 2010, Canepa moved into Moto2 for it’s inaugural season where he achieved a best result of 16th at Silverstone. After returning to Superstock 1000 in 2011 where he finished fifth in the standings, the Italian competed in World Superbikes between 2012-2018 with an overall best of finishing 13th in the championship in 2014.

Between 2019 and 2022 Canepa combined his Endurance commitments with the Moto E world Championship, his final year in 2022 would prove to be his strongest claiming his one and only podium – a third place in France on his way to 7th in the World Championship. If rumours are to be believed then this isn’t the last we’ll see of Canepa in Motorcycle racing, the Italian seems set for a move into management with Yamaha with both the endurance paddock and World Superbike taunted as possible destinations.

When and where can I watch? (All times in BST)Fans worldwide can follow live timing of Thursday and Friday’s practice and qualifying sessions from 13.00 on Thursday and 11.00 on Friday free of charge on Fim EWC’s official website – https://www.fimewc.com/enThe race on Saturday will start at 14.00 and be live with uninterrupted coverage from 13.30 on Discovery+ until after the conclusion of the podium and Championship ceremonies on Sunday afternoon. Parts of the race will be available on Eurosport 2, as the channel will be alternating coverage between the British Superbike Championship from Oulton Park and Speedway Grand Prix from Vojens.

Featured Image: EWC Championship.