The FIA WEC driver crews in both classes will all be balanced to meet an average minimum weight for the 2025 season, according to a bulletin posted to the championship’s noticeboard this morning in Qatar.
The rules state that the reference crew weight has been set, as expected, at 82 kg, meaning crews that have a combined average weight that comes in under that figure will have ballast applied to their car.
The three minimum driver weights for each crew – the weight of each driver with their complete safety clothing – will be added together and divided by three. This gives the average.
For example:
- Driver (1) = 77.8 kg
- Driver (2) = 80.2 kg
- Driver (3) = 82.9 kg
The calculation produces the following average: (77.8 + 80.2 + 82.9)/3 = 80.3 kg.
This means that the ballast applied to the car would be 2 kg, as it’s 1.7 kg and the ballast will be rounded up to the highest integer.
The compensated minimum car weight will also be calculated separately for Qualifying in Hypercar with a “compensated minimum car weight” figure.
In Hypercar, the ballast “must be positioned in one of the homologated BOP ballast positions within the car wheelbase” and “the homologated weight distribution must be respected”.
And in LMGT3, ballast must be positioned within the ballast box in each car’s cockpit.
The technical delegates can also request random spot checks on driver weights up to an hour before Qualifying. If the driver weight is lower than the minimum declared then they will be reported to the stewards.
“The minimum penalty,” the document continues, “will be an increase of the driver compensation ballast and if applicable Qualifying / Hyperpole driver compensation ballast, by difference between the measured and the declared driver weight, rounded to the highest integer number.
“It is the responsibility of the team to calculate the appropriate compensated minimum car weight (and/or the Qualifying / Hyperpole compensated minimum car weight) and apply the correct amount of ballast accordingly.”
This addition to the regulations comes after the drivers in both classes were asked to attend a weigh-in during last week’s Prologue test in Qatar. It has been introduced to eliminate any disadvantages that some crews face with taller or heavier drivers.
The full bulletin can be found HERE >>>
