The FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) will switch to a radical new qualifying format for the 2013 season, with the average time over four flying laps deciding the grid. The decision was confirmed at the final World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) meeting of 2012.
Two different drivers in each car must set a pair of flying laps, the new format intended to be more attractive for spectators and media. Increasingly during 2012, with tyres from qualifying used for the opening stint, teams ran a minimal number of laps in the session.
In another change to the race weekend format the warm-up session on the morning of race day will not take place at 2013 event, save for events where it is required.
The WMSC also confirmed an as yet unspecified limitation on engines and tyres to help control costs, the latter constrain affecting both LMP2 and LMGTE Am, though the limit on engines covers only LMP2.
The meeting also confirmed that the Six Hours of Sao Paulo moved from a Saturday to a Sunday race, taking place on September 1, rather than August 31 as started in earlier versions of the series’ 2013 schedule.
