35 machines for the FIA WEC

2015 is expected to be the best FIA World Endurance Championship season. The main actors will be the guys of Audi, Toyota, Porsche and Nissan in LMP1, but there are too much to expect in the other classes too. But huge interest in the world series generated worries in fans, as FIA and ACO announced that a 32-car cap would be adopted for logistical reasons.

But today in the Press Conference held at Paris, it was confirmed that 35 cars will make the full-season racing, spread into four categories: LMP1, LMP2, LMGTE-Pro and LMGTE-Am.

The LMP1 category will accommodate hybrids and non-hybrids without distinction, what makes the main class grid go to 11 entries. Welcome to Nissan as they join the field with two GT-R LM NISMO models, as will combat Audi, Porsche and reigning World Champions of Toyota, with two cars each too. The privateers side will be represented by Rebellion Racing and its two Rebellion R-One-AERs, as well by ByKolles and their sole CLM P1/01-AER.

The LMP2 category returns stronger this year, with 10 cars confirmed, but with the loss of World Champions of SMP Racing, as the Russian team decided to do an attack on European Le Mans Series with their BR01s. G-Drive Racing returns with two Ligier-Nissans, and KCMG is back with the new ORECA 05. The new entrants in the FIA WEC are Extreme Speed Motorsports from U.S.A., using two of the new HPD ARX-04b models, as well ELMS LMP2 champions of Signatech-Alpine, with their Alpine A450b, and the Team SARD Morand, as the Swiss team joined forces with the Japanese company to bring two Morgan EVOs to competition.

The LMGTE-Pro class remains most of the same, as Aston Martin, Ferrari and AF Corse will field the seven cars to be present. Most of the changes come from Aston Martin as the Dane Train of Young Driver AMR steps up to LMGTE-Pro, as driver ratings changes made them go up, and CRAFT-Bamboo Racing goes to WTCC, abandoning their No. 99 entry.

The LMGTE-Am category will have 7 entries too, spread into Aston Martins, Ferraris, Porsches and the return of Corvette by the hands of Lambre Competition. Other entries worth a note are the SMP Racing Ferrari, which may have the LMP2 Drivers Champion Sergey Zlobin on it, and the Dempsey-Proton RacingPorsche, which will feature the driver/Hollywood star Patrick Dempsey.

And stay tuned: The Prologue, which is the FIA WEC official tests, will take place at Paul Ricard on March 27^th and 28^th, and the 2015 season starts on April 12^th, with the 6 Hours of Silverstone.

You can check the full entry list here.

PHOTOS: FIA WEC