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Welcome to Avis
Avis brings you closer to the action @ WEC and the 100th 24 Hours of Le Mans
The engine roar at the opening of the international motorsport calendar got louder earlier this year with Avis becoming Premium Partner for the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship season.
Avis is proud to be lining up as Vehicle Rental Service Premium Partner for the prestige global series of FIA WEC endurance motor races taking place from March to November. The highlight? The 24 Hours of Le Mans, France, which celebrated 100 years in June.
The exciting FIA WEC series is held over seven timed championship races lasting from six to 24 hours. Global manufacturers including Ferrari, Porsche, Peugeot, Toyota and Cadillac go head-to-head on some of the world’s top race circuits.
Booking with Avis is sure to prove the winning formula for fans planning a road trip to the FIA WEC race destinations. Avis' modern fleet has something for everyone from premium cars and estates for larger groups to smaller ultra fuel-efficient models as well as hybrid and electric vehicles..
Valuing diversity: Women in motorsport
At Avis, we celebrate the FIA WEC mission to increase female driver representation in motorsport in line with our own understanding of the importance of driving excellence through teamwork and inclusion. In 2022 the Iron Dames become the first all-female racing team to make the podium in a World Endurance Championship event after a second-place finish at the Six Hours of Monza.
Eight women have been on the start line in the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 2019; Sarah Bovy, Tatiana Calderon, Sophia Floersch, Rahel Frey, Michelle Gatting, Manuela Gostner, Beitske Visser and Lilou Wadoux (pictured, right), who collectively have made it into the top 10 numerous times.
In this video, three female endurance motor racing drivers tell us how they are living their dream by working in the world of motorsport. Browse to this page for the top 10 most influential female race car drivers and check out this article for tips on how to break in to a career in motorsports.
Avis Preferred members can enjoy the following benefits
... the more you rent the more perks you will receive
- The chance to win FIA World Endurance Championships tickets! Avis Preferred members get the chance to win a pair of tickets (plus parking) for the races at Portimão and Spa-Francorchamps. To enter, all you’ll need is your membership number.
- Priority service with every rental – Avoid unnecessary waiting with pre-filled documents and dedicated Avis Preferred counters
- Earn free upgrades and exclusive discounts
- The Avis app – Get the full Avis app experience, including changing or upgrading your rental enroute to a rental location and being able to choose the exact make and model of vehicle you want.
When and where is this year’s FIA WEC?
The seven big races in 2023 take place at:
Sebring (USA) - 17 March
Portimão (Portugal) - 16 April
Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) - 29 April
Fuji (Japan) - 10 September
Bahrain (Bahrain) - 4 November
When is the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2023?
This year’s Le Mans race (pictured, right) is taking place across Saturday 10th – Sunday 11th June 2023, kicking off at 4pm (CET).
Where is the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2023?
Le Mans is held on the Circuit de la Sarthe in the town of Le Mans, around 80 kilometres north of Tours, and south of Alencon.
Did you know? World Endurance Championship races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans have been a testbed for developments in areas such as safety, braking and fuel performance that then become standard on the cars we drive …
Getting there
Still need to sort out your WEC and Le Mans travel plans? Soak up the atmosphere and enjoy your road trip to the races from one of our Avis rental locations:
Portimão (Portugal)
Nearest Avis location: Avis Praia Da Rocha Portimão or see our other locations at Avis Portugal
Nearest airport to Algarve International Circuit with Avis rental location: Faro Airport (FAO) (80km)
Le Mans, France
Nearest Avis location: Avis Le Mans Railway Station, or for other locations go to Avis France
Nearest airport to 24 Hours of Le Mans with Avis rental location: Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris (CDG) (150km), or Paris Orly (ORY) (239km)
Travel to Le Mans from Paris by TGV from Paris Montparnasse to Le Mans Railway Station, 54min
Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
Nearest Avis location: Avis Liege (65km), or for other locations the team at Avis Belgium will look forward to welcoming you.
Nearest airports to Spa-Francorchamps Circuit (pictured, left) with Avis vehicle rental: Brussels Airport (BRU) or Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL), both 140km from Spa
Monza (Italy)
Nearest Avis location: Monza, Avis Milan Railway Station (18.5km), or for other locations, see Avis Italy
Nearest airports to Monza International Circuit with Avis vehicle rental: Milan Linate (LIN) (24.3km); Milan Malpensa (MXP) (61.2km).
What is endurance motor racing and how does it work?
Unlike F1, these are endurance races staged across a range of distances and times from 1,000 miles in the quickest time in Sebring, to the furthest distance in six hours on the Monza racetrack, to 24 hours at Le Mans. Teams of three drivers compete in a single vehicle with more than 30 team cars at the start line in each race.
Each driver and the team behind them work together to maintain focus, speed and performance over long distances and time periods. Just as with our Avis global vehicle rental operation, smooth, efficient driver changeovers and the pursuit of excellence are critical to success.
Each individual race and the season as a whole require an overall strategy. Teams need the flexibility to adapt to the challenges each race brings for their racing cars out on the track and in the pitlane. Just as with driving o the road, changing weather conditions, fluctuating temperatures and surface conditions are part of the teams' safety considerations.
What kind of cars take part in endurance racing?
Adding to the excitement and challenge of FIA WEC, three different categories of cars race on the same circuit at the same time.
These are the Hypercars, LMP2 and LM GTE AM. The prototype classes (Hypercar and LMP2) are for manufacturers looking to put their latest developments and innovations to the test. The design of these prototype race cars is focused on technological innovations rather than resemblance to the road car.
The GTE category is for racing cars that look like sports cars and could be driven on the road. The GTE Am class includes private teams with amateur drivers.
Cooperation and camaraderie between amateur drivers and professional racing drivers is central to the tradition and ethos of endurance motor racing which is focussed on great teamwork.
The multi-class races mean that overtaking is for the prototypes. Slower cars are meant to keep to their lane to enable the faster cars to overtake. GTE cars are on average 15 to 45 seconds slower than the LMH cars.
Who is taking part in FIA WEC 2023?
The FIA WEC 2023 season entries include 38 full-season entrants from 12 different countries. There is a record number of teams competing in the Hypercar and LMGTE Am categories. Check out the start list to the FIA WEC 2023.
Racing towards a greener future
The ultimate goal of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA World Endurance Championship, is to serve tomorrow’s transportation requirements. Pioneering and developing new technology that will lead to a greener world for future generations.
The WEC is the first elite championship in motorsport to use 100% renewable fuel. At Avis, we share the WEC’s vision for a future of sustainable transport. Our modern fleet includes fuel-efficient, fully electric and hybrid cars.
Where and how to watch the FIA World Endurance Championships (WEC)
Trackside is always going to be the place to be. Buy WEC tickets here.
But you can also watch the build-up and live coverage of the FIA WEC on TV at home on Eurosport, one of the main TV outlets for WEC 2023. There is also comprehensive free-to-air and paid-for coverage in countries across Europe plus online coverage on several platforms including Discovery+.