How does multiclass racing work in WEC?

A car can finish well down the overall timing screen and still celebrate victory. WEC runs multiple races within the same event, with different categories sharing the circuit.

Understanding the class order is the first step towards following endurance racing.

Which classes compete in WEC?

The 2026 full-season championship features Hypercar and LMGT3.

Hypercar is the top category, bringing purpose-built prototypes together under the LMH and LMDh technical frameworks. These cars contest overall honours.

LMGT3 features racing versions of production-based GT models. Its crews compete for their own class victory, with driver-categorisation requirements shaping line-ups.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans also includes LMP2, adding another prototype category to that event. LMP2's presence at Le Mans does not mean it competes throughout the full WEC season.

Who wins a multiclass race?

There is an overall classification and a classification for each category.

The leading Hypercar will normally be the overall winner. The leading LMGT3 car wins its class even though faster prototypes have completed more laps.

Consequently, a lower overall position does not make an LMGT3 result unsuccessful. Compare the car with its class rivals.

The separate championship battles are reflected in our report on Toyota's Barcelona victory and the remaining title contests.

Why do the faster cars keep overtaking?

Different categories have different performance capabilities. Over a long race, Hypercars repeatedly catch LMGT3 traffic, creating encounters between cars contesting different trophies.

Those interactions still influence each class battle. A driver delayed behind another category may lose time to a rival who clears the same traffic more efficiently.

The track position you see is not always the championship position being contested.

Are slower-class cars merely obstacles?

LMGT3 crews are racing for their own result. Their braking points, cornering behaviour and strategic priorities can differ from those of the prototypes approaching them.

Managing those differences is part of the endurance challenge, alongside maintaining pace and avoiding mistakes.

How can viewers follow the action?

Filter live timing by class, check gaps to the relevant leader and identify which drivers are racing for position.

Our WEC coverage follows the separate stories. Watching both classes reveals battles that an overall leaderboard alone can hide.