The Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team heads into the 89th Bol d’Or with a 19-point advantage as it targets a third FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) title in four years and a fourth crown overall, while Yamaha has the opportunity to secure four championship titles across Formula EWC and the Production classes.
The legendary Bol d’Or will once again bring the curtain down on the FIM Endurance World Championship at Circuit Paul Ricard, with the traditional season finale set to host another dramatic title showdown after the extraordinary events of 2025.
Twelve months ago, YART entered the race level on points with its closest championship rival following qualifying. Its main challenger appeared to be on course for the title until a mechanical issue forced the team to retire with less than 30 minutes remaining. YART finished second in the race, securing the world title by a single point in one of the most dramatic conclusions in EWC history.
This year, Marvin Fritz, Karel Hanika and Leandro Mercado arrive at Le Castellet with 112 points, 19 clear of their closest challenger, while the third-placed team remains in contention with 84.
Up to 65 points remain available at the Bol d’Or. Five can be earned in qualifying, while 60 are on offer during the race, comprising ten at the eight-hour mark, ten after 16 hours and a maximum of 40 at the finish.
The #1 Bridgestone-shod YART R1 has finished inside the top four at every round this season. The team began its title defence by taking pole position and victory at the 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans before finishing second at the 8 Hours of Spa Motos. At the Suzuka 8 Hours, the trio finished fourth in difficult wet conditions, scoring 21 points across the weekend to extend its championship lead to 19.
Following the long break after Suzuka, YART completed a two-day test at Circuit Paul Ricard on 1–2 September. The riders focused on longer runs and race set-up work, particularly with the suspension and electronics, while a step with the rear shock improved confidence aboard the R1.
During Tuesday’s official Pre-Test, the focus was on building rhythm and feeling with the bike ahead of the opening race-week sessions. Unfortunately, Hanika was involved in a multi-rider accident and taken to hospital for checks, which confirmed he had suffered no fractures.
Although sore and bruised, the Czech rider is determined to compete this weekend. Mercado also had a small crash after encountering oil on the track. Despite the interrupted running, the team is ready for the weekend.
A successful title defence would see YART secure back-to-back championships and its third title in four seasons, following its victories in 2023 and 2025. It would also mark the team’s fourth championship trophy overall after its maiden success in 2009. YART will also be aiming to secure its first victory at the Bol d’Or.
The Elf Marc VDS Racing Team/KM99 will field Bo Bendsneyder in place of Alessandro Delbianco, who is competing in the CIV Superbike round at Cremona. Having already raced for KM99 at Spa and been part of the squad at Suzuka, the Dutch rider will make his first 24-hour EWC race appearance alongside Randy de Puniet and Florian Marino. After finishing 17th on its Bol d’Or debut in 2023, claiming a breakthrough second place in 2024, and retiring from the 2025 edition while challenging for a top-six finish, the #99 Yamaha team aims to end the season on a high.
There is also plenty at stake for Yamaha in the other championship classifications. In Formula EWC, Yamaha leads the FIM Endurance World Championship for Manufacturers, while the #96 Legacy Competition Yamaha heads the production-based FIM Endurance World Trophy standings with 83 points. Yamaha also leads the FIM Endurance World Trophy for Manufacturers, creating the possibility of securing four championship titles across Formula EWC and Production at the season finale.
Free Practice begins on Thursday at 11:00 local time (UTC+2), with the first qualifying sessions starting at 17:05 and Night Practice at 20:15. The second qualifying sessions begin at 10:50 on Friday. Saturday’s Warm Up starts at 08:55, before the 89th Bol d’Or gets underway at 15:00 with the traditional Le Mans-style running start and concludes 24 hours later on Sunday, when the 2026 world champions will be crowned.
Marvin Fritz
Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team
“It all comes down to this. We had a good and important test here. We had not attended the pre-Bol d’Or test for the past two years, so it was valuable to return this year. We know the Bol d’Or is not the easiest race for us because of the long straight, but we have finished on the podium here many times and have never won, so that is our big target. We will focus on ourselves, as we did at Le Mans, Spa and Suzuka, and give our maximum. We know we have a great package with the YART R1. The team has worked fantastically, our pit stops have been consistently quick this year, and we have strong Bridgestone tyres. Karel had a scary crash during Tuesday’s Private Test. I was riding with him on track, and I only just managed to avoid it, but luckily he seems to have escaped serious injury and is focused on recovering as much as possible before the race. We know the package well; we are prepared; we will give everything to try to win the race and become champions again.”
Karel Hanika
Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team
“It has been a long break, so I am looking forward to the final round of the championship. Tuesday was a difficult day after the crash. I am sore and bruised, but the important thing is that I did not break anything. I will recover as much as possible, and I am determined to ride. I am happy we tested here this year because it allowed us to gather more data and improve the bike. We made a small step with the rear shock, which gave us more confidence, and the speed was there. It will be difficult, but we are not coming here just to collect points. Our target is to win the race, and we will do everything we can to achieve that.”
Leandro Mercado
Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team
“Finally, it is race week! After the long break since Suzuka, it feels great to be back and ready for another 24-hour race. It is a very important one for us, but we are staying focused, keeping our heads down, concentrating on our job and giving our best. We had the chance to test here at the start of September, and it was very positive. We had a good feeling with the bike and were able to work on some important areas ahead of the race. Tuesday’s test was also productive. Karel’s crash was scary, but luckily he seems okay. I also had a small crash after encountering oil on the track, but I feel good and am ready to fight for victory in the race.”
Mandy Kainz
Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team, Team Manager
“First of all, we are relieved that Karel escaped Tuesday’s crash without a serious injury. He is sore and bruised, but there are no fractures, and we will continue to monitor him closely. The team responded very professionally, and everyone has worked incredibly hard to make sure we are ready. We arrive with a 19-point lead, but this is endurance racing and, as we found out last year, anything can happen, especially with 65 points still available. All we can do is focus on our own race and try to win. If we can execute a clean race, keep mistakes to a minimum and perform at our best, hopefully that will be enough to retain the world championship.”
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