Samwise Sportscar & Endurance Newsletter
Friday, July 3, 2026
Silverstone Aims to Become WEC’s Second-Biggest Event After Le Mans
Silverstone is aiming to become the World Endurance Championship’s second-biggest event after Le Mans, following confirmation of a new four-year deal returning the British Grand Prix circuit to the calendar in April 2027. Managing director Stuart Pringle told RACER the venue targets 100,000-plus spectators per weekend, aided by affordable £95 tickets and the presence of British manufacturers Aston Martin and McLaren in the Hypercar class. The agreement ends a seven-year absence — the longest gap since WEC’s 2012 relaunch — and was partly inspired by last year’s successful ELMS event at Silverstone.
Lamborghini Calls Temerario GT3’s Debut Season Critical for Customer Racing Programme
The Lamborghini Temerario GT3 is entering what manufacturer officials describe as a critical first season, with eight examples competing globally as the car makes its racing debut. Lamborghini motorsport chiefs have set a target of more than 100 Temerarios on track worldwide by 2027 across GT3 programmes in Europe, North America and Asia. The new car replaces the long-running Huracán GT3 EVO2, and early customer team feedback has been positive. Officials acknowledge the opening season is decisive for building commercial momentum and competitive performance — two factors that drive customer purchasing decisions in the GT3 marketplace.
Sources: DailySportscar Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Goodyear Extends European Le Mans Series Tyre Supply Deal Through 2029
Goodyear has secured a contract extension to continue supplying tyres to the European Le Mans Series through the 2029 season, deepening a partnership that has grown since the American manufacturer’s return to top-tier endurance racing. The renewed deal provides tyre continuity for teams and organisers across the ELMS’s LMP2, LMGT3 and GTE categories for three additional seasons. Goodyear’s ELMS programme runs alongside its broader global motorsport commitments and has been accompanied by a steady development cycle. Series officials described the renewal as an important step in securing medium-term technical stability for the championship.
Sources: DailySportscar Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
33-Car Field Confirmed for IMSA’s Canadian Tire Motorsport Park Sprint
IMSA has confirmed a 33-car entry for next weekend’s Chevrolet Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, with LMP2 taking top billing in the class’s only sprint-format race of 2026. Car Blanche Racing steps up from GTD to GTD Pro at Mosport in a significant class move. Multiple driver changes reflect the WEC-IMSA calendar clash: Ricky Taylor subs for WEC-bound Harry Tincknell in the No. 52 Bryan Herta Autosport Oreca, and Ben Hanley replaces Paul di Resta in the No. 22 United Autosports entry. Robert Wickens returns to DXDT Racing’s Corvette after a transporter fire ended his Laguna Seca appearance.
ELMS Paddock Notes: Teams Arrive at Imola for Round Three
The European Le Mans Series paddock assembled at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari this week ahead of the 4 Hours of Imola, the third round of the 2026 campaign. Pre-event notes from Imola’s Thursday arrival reveal teams fine-tuning car setups across both LMP2 and LMGT3 categories on the fast Italian circuit. Championship standings remain tight following the opening two rounds, with multiple teams separated by small margins. Several entries show late driver lineup adjustments, while weather uncertainty has some engineers debating tyre strategy options ahead of a race that typically produces close multi-class battles at the high-speed Emilian venue.
Sources: DailySportscar Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Akkodis ASP Lexus Targets WEC São Paulo Podium After Le Mans Turnaround
Akkodis ASP Team arrives at the Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo with explicit LMGT3 podium ambitions, energised by a morale-boosting Le Mans campaign. Esteban Masson, whose spirited LMP2 drive at Le Mans drew widespread acclaim, returns to the cockpit of the No. 78 Lexus RC F LMGT3 for round four of the World Endurance Championship. The French squad carries fond memories of Interlagos — the venue of its previous breakthrough LMGT3 class victory in the series. With the team’s confidence restored by its Le Mans showing, Akkodis ASP has set a clear podium target for next weekend’s Brazilian race.
Sources: PitDebrief Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
IMSA Issues CTMP Balance of Performance: Corvette and Huracan Lead Weight Reductions
IMSA has issued the Balance of Performance update for the Chevrolet Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, with the Corvette Z06 GT3.R and Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 receiving the largest weight reductions in the GTD/GTD Pro field. The Corvette sheds 12 kg but faces compensating power cuts at two stages, while the Huracan drops 13 kg with a speed-dependent power reduction applied. The new-for-2026 Lamborghini Temerario GT3 picks up a 3 kg weight break plus a significant Stage 1 power increase. Aston Martin’s Vantage GT3 Evo carries a 20 kg weight penalty at Mosport, offset by power compensation across both stages.
Sources: Sportscar365 Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Campbell: Leaving Porsche for Ford WEC Hypercar After Decade Was ‘Perfect Time’
Australian Matt Campbell, the reigning IMSA GTP champion with Porsche Penske Motorsport, says leaving Porsche after a decade to join Ford’s incoming WEC Hypercar programme felt like the ‘perfect time’ for a career move. Confirmed in the final batch of drivers for Ford’s 2027 WEC entry, Campbell joins Tom Blomqvist and Nick Yelloly in the Blue Oval’s Hypercar line-up. He describes the diverse LMDh experience shared across the trio as a genuine asset during the programme’s intensive development phase. Campbell has also raised his hand for Ford’s expected Mustang GT3 effort at the 2027 Bathurst 12 Hour, calendar permitting.
Sources: Sportscar365 Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
WEC Hypercar — Drivers
1. Kobayashi / Conway / de Vries (Toyota #7) — 75 pts
2. Rast / Frijns (BMW #20) — 71 pts
3. van der Linde (BMW #20) — 61 pts
4. Hartley / Hirakawa / Buemi (Toyota #8) — 56 pts
5. Pier Guidi / Giovinazzi / Calado (Ferrari #51) — 39 pts
6. da Costa / Milesi / Habsburg (Alpine #35) — 28 pts
7. Déletr az / Nato / Stevens (Cadillac #12) — 26 pts
8. Magnussen / Marciello (BMW #15) — 25 pts
9. Fuoco / Molina / Nielsen (Ferrari #50) — 23 pts
10. Tincknell / Gamble (Aston Martin #007) — 22 pts
WEC Hypercar — Manufacturers
1. Toyota — 132 pts
2. BMW — 96 pts
3. Ferrari — 62 pts
4. Alpine — 38 pts
5. Cadillac — 32 pts
6. Aston Martin — 26 pts
7. Peugeot — 15 pts
8. Genesis — 6 pts
IMSA GTP — Drivers
1. Jack Aitken — 203 pts
2. Laurin Heinrich
IMSA GTP — Teams
1. No. 31 Cadillac Whelen — 245 pts
2. No. 93 Acura MSR
IMSA GTP — Manufacturers
1. Cadillac (leads Porsche by 80 pts)
* Full standings after Watkins Glen R7
Curated by JD · samwise.agency