SILVERSTONE Will play host to the opening round of the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship season this weekend for the fourth year in succession.The pinnacle of endurance racing will return to the Northamptonshire venue for the 6 hours of Silverstone on Sunday, 17 April with fresh impetus for all the categories as new and existing challengers duel for World Championship honours.
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A raft of former Formula One and British drivers fill the increasingly competitive grid ahead of the new season, with former Lotus Renault and Caterham driver Vitaly Petrov joining fellow F1 veterens Mark Webber, Sebastian Buemi, Anthony Davidson, Nick Heidfeld, Andre Lotterer, Kazuki Nakajima, Nelson Piquet Jnr, Bruno Senna, Will Stevens, Roberto Merhi and returning WEC pilot Kamui Kobayashi amongst a strong former Formula One contingent.
Amidst the host of household names, Silverstone based Strakka Racing (above) will compete in the LMP2 category this season, which in itself is expected to be among the most competitive of the four WEC categories.
The championship consists of two prototype and two GT categories: LMP1 and LMP2 for the prototypes and GTE PRO and GTE AM for the highly tuned versions of road going super-cars.
LMP1 is separated into a hybrid category for manufacturers, represented by Audi, Toyota and Porsche, with a privateer category for non hybrid runners-represented this season by Rebellion Racing and ByKolles Racing.
Access is available to fans all weekend long from Friday through to race-day on Sunday, with paddock access as standard for those looking to gain a closer glimpse of the machinery and drivers showcasing their talents this weekend.
Ticket prices start at £10 for those attending on Friday only, with children free of charge.
Advanced tickets are still available until Thursday lunchtime, with prices for Saturday at £20, Sunday £35 and weekend tickets for all three days priced at £40.
For those attending on the day Saturday prices are £25, Sunday £40 and weekend tickets £50.
Entertainment will be aplenty on and off the track for all three days with Hall One of the Silverstone Wing opening as a Chill Out Zone, with a dedicated fan zone open adjacent to the main paddock for fans to enjoy activities such as bungee trampoline, crazy golf, climbing wall, fairground rides and manufacturer events amongst the track action.
Supporting the WEC will be the equally competitive European Le Mans Series incorporating prototypes and GT cars, as well as the Porsche Carerra GB, with the ELMS offering a 4 hour endurance race on the Saturday before the headlining 6 hour race begins at midday on Sunday.
In order to help fans navigate around the circuit more effectively and to answer any queries, Silverstone have once again enlisted the assistance of their own batch of volunteering Race Makers to help those attending enjoy their weekend.