The American FIA WEC battle is now ready
After a long summer break, the much-loved FIA WEC (World Endurance Championship) finally returns. The next stop: the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in the United States, hosting the third-to-last round of the WEC season.
What happened in the previous round? Cadillac dominated the Brazilian race in São Paulo from start to finish. The Anglo-American alliance of Cadillac Racing and Hertz Team JOTA was unstoppable with its pair of V-Series.R Hypercars – in a race where Ferrari, a season-long frontrunner, struggled to make an impact.
Aston Martin heads into the American round with growing confidence, having recently achieved some promising results – a sign that development is moving in the right direction. Scoring points in the remaining rounds isn’t out of reach, especially considering this is the British brand’s debut season in the championship.
A different story for Alpine: the French manufacturer has consistently finished in the points in recent rounds, showing an impressive improvement in performance compared to last year.
Who Will Make Their Voice Heard at the COTA WEC Round?
The 499P Ferrari leads the World Endurance Championship standings with 175 points, having maintained strong form since the start of the season and clinched victory at the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans. That race, held on a circuit with long straights and only a few twisty sections at the beginning and end of its 13.6 km layout, contrasts sharply with COTA. The American track is dominated by technical corners, putting aerodynamic performance to the test over most of the lap.
The Balance of Performance (BoP) assigned to Ferrari is expected to be less punishing than in the last round, although the 499P will likely remain among the heaviest cars on the grid (weighing 1,069 kg in Brazil).
Cadillac sits second in the manufacturers’ standings with 120 points, having taken a crucial victory in São Paulo. However, the updated BoP could see the car gain weight, potentially impacting its performance. Similar adjustments might affect Porsche and Peugeot, both of which have shown consistency and solid results throughout the season.
As for Aston Martin, the only team running a naturally aspirated V12 without hybrid assistance, no significant penalties or advantages are expected. Its higher horsepower output could be an asset—especially if the BoP remains favorable.
FIA WEC Bop Changes COTA
At the moment, the FIA and ACO have not yet officially released the updated Balance of Performance (BoP) values for the FIA WEC race at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). However, based on trends observed in previous rounds, we can make a few considerations:
In the World Endurance Championship, the minimum regulated weight for Hypercar-class vehicles is set at 1,030 kilograms. At the São Paulo round, some key adjustments were made to the Balance of Performance. The Ferrari 499P received a 12-kilogram weight increase, bringing it up to 1,069 kg — matching the weight of the Toyota GR010 Hybrid. Meanwhile, both the Peugeot 9X8 and the Aston Martin Valkyrie were allowed to run at the minimum weight of 1,030 kg. The Cadillac V-Series R and the Porsche 963 benefitted from a 2-kilogram weight reduction for the Brazilian race
Timetable WEC COTA
Friday, September 5, 2025
- Free Practice 1: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
- Free Practice 2: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
🗓 Saturday, September 6, 2025
- Free Practice 3: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Qualifying – LMGT3: 3:00 PM – 3:12 PM
- Hyperpole – LMGT3: 3:20 PM – 3:30 PM
- Qualifying – Hypercar: 3:40 PM – 3:52 PM
- Hyperpole – Hypercar: 4:00 PM – 4:10 PM
🗓 Sunday, September 7, 2025
- FIA WEC Race Start: 1:00 PM
- Race End: 7:00 PM
All times are local to Austin, Texas (Central Daylight Time). You can follow the entire event live on FIAWEC.tv or check with your regional broadcasters for coverage.
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