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Sylvain Guintoli says he is “hoping” for additional EWC rounds in the future, and has identified two circuits that could host the series.
Former World Superbike Champion and current factory BMW EWC rider Sylvain Guintoli expressed his hopes for an expanded Endurance World Championship calendar in the future, beyond the current four-round schedule that has been in place since Covid.
Guintoli highlighted the brief addition of a 12-hour race at Sepang in 2019, won by YART Yamaha in a shortened format due to bad weather conditions featuring an extraordinary performance by Niccolo Canepa.
He emphasized the ongoing efforts by championship organizers to potentially add one or two extra rounds to the existing calendar, which currently includes iconic events like the 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans and the Suzuka 8 Hours.
Guintoli stated his optimism during an interview at the British MotoGP, discussing the potential for new races reminiscent of Sepang or Qatar, possibly as soon as next year.
Looking ahead to 2025, Guintoli expressed satisfaction with the progress of the factory BMW team and their transition to Bridgestone tires, despite encountering challenges like inclement weather and tough competition during the season.
He reflected on his experience leading the team at the 24 Heures Motos and the physical demands of the EWC start procedure, where he humorously shared concerns about muscle strains during the grid run before ultimately enjoying the race dynamics and setting competitive lap times.
Overall, Guintoli remains positive about the BMW EWC project’s direction, aiming for strong performances at upcoming events like the 8 Hours of Spa Motos, as the endurance championship continues to evolve with increased competitiveness each year.
