Exclusive: Tom Kristensen believes the WEC "is in a fantastic state" in 2026

Written by Owen Bradley

Credit: Rolex/Andrew Baker

Tom Kristensen, who holds the record for the most 24 Hours of Le Mans victories - with nine wins, spoke to Rolex and DIVEBOMB Motorsport about his thoughts on the WEC in 2026 and the current Hypercar regulations that have been in place since 2021, ahead of the World Endurance Championship round at Spa-Francorchamps.

The current Hypercar regulations have been in effect since 2021, replacing LMP1. The latest set of regulations made the cars heavier and decreased the overall power that the cars can produce.

Despite initial criticism for the lack of power, the Hypercar regulations have grown the championship since 2021, attracting multiple high profile manufacturers such as: Ferrari, BMW, Cadillac, Aston Martin, Alpine, Peugeot, Porsche and Toyota.

Speaking to DIVEBOMB Motorsport, Kristensen said: "The series is in a fantastic state, with great competition and regulations that are allowing new manufacturers and drivers to join the sport."

Credit: Rolex/James Moy

The regulations have put the championship's focus on competition, particularly with the Balance of Performance (BoP) which aims to balance the overall performance between manufacturers. This has also led to the influx of manufacturers on the grid, which has paradoxically made the grid more competitive as a result.

The WEC has also seen more high profile drivers able to enter into the championship, giving the WEC some serious star power, with names like Jenson Button, Mick Schumacher and Valentino Rossi all racing in the championship just last season.

The 2027 WEC season will see the arrival of Ford and McLaren on the grid, with Laurens Vanthoor recently being announced as a driver for McLaren. However, whilst more manufacturers are set to join the championship, Alpine will be departing the WEC at the end of 2026, following Porsche Penske's departure from the championship at the end of last season.

Kristensen continued: "Looking to the season ahead, it’s only going to get better – closer racing and even more talented drivers. There is so much potential in the WEC, and that’s what makes it so exciting for the sport."

Toyota currently lead the Manufacturer's and Drivers' Championships after the opening round of the season in Imola just last month. Ferrari and BMW look set to be among the top competing manufacturers this season, as teams such as Aston Martin look to take some steps forward, with this being their second season in the championship.