If you’re an Austin F1 fan who has never watched the World Endurance Championship, Lone Star Le Mans is basically your invitation to see what all the endurance-racing hype is about.
The six-hour race takes over Circuit of The Americas on September 4 through 6, and brings some of the biggest racing manufacturers to Austin, including Ferrari, Toyota, Cadillac, Porsche, BMW, Aston Martin, Genesis and more.
Yes, it’s a six hour race. But, trust, it’s not just the same thing for six hours. Read on to find out how it all works.
What Exactly Is WEC?
Unlike F1, where each driver has their own car, FIA World Endurance Championship teams share cars between multiple drivers. There are also multiple types of cars on track at that same time.
At Lone Star Le Mans, there will be 35 cars competing – 17 Hypercars and 18 LMGT3 cars.
Hypercar = The Ones You Want to Watch
Hypercar is WEC’s top class. This is where you’ll see some of the biggest names in the automotive world: Ferrari, Toyota, Cadillac, Porsche, BMW, Aston Martin, Alpine, Peugeot and Genesis.
Think of these as the stars of the show. But, unlike F1, being the fastest car isn’t enough. These teams have to balance speed with fuel consumption, tire wear, reliability and strategy.
Basically, it’s go fast, but don’t break anything.
Then There Are the GT Cars
LMGT3 is the second class racing at Lone Star Le Mans. These cars look a little more like the sports cars you might actually see on the road — think Porsche, Ferrari, BMW, Lexus, Corvette and Aston Martin. They’re slower than the Hypercars, but they’re absolutely part of the action.
And because both classes are racing together, you’ll constantly see Hypercars slicing through LMGT3 traffic.
Which brings us to one of the best parts of WEC…
Traffic. So. Much. Traffic.
If you’re an F1 fan, you’re probably used to seeing 20 cars fighting within the same general performance window.
WEC is different.
A Hypercar can be battling another Hypercar for the overall lead while simultaneously catching several LMGT3 cars. The driver has to figure out when to pass. The team has to figure out the strategy. And suddenly, a car that isn’t even competing for the overall win can affect the outcome of the race.
It’s chaos in the best way possible.
Yes, the Drivers Share Cars
This is another major difference between F1 and WEC. You don’t have one driver sitting in the car for the entire six-hour race.Multiple drivers share each car and take turns during the race.
The goal isn’t to lead every lap.It’s to be leading when the clock hits six hours.
Six Hours?! What Am I Supposed to Watch?
You don’t watch WEC the same way you watch F1. This race is about the story. A team can dominate the first few hours and suddenly lose its advantage because of a puncture, mechanical problem, penalty or safety car.
It’s all about strategy.
Who Should Austin Fans Watch?
There are plenty of big names in the 2026 field, but these are a few I’d put on your radar.
Toyota
Toyota is one of the biggest names in endurance racing and comes into Austin with a serious championship storyline. If you’re looking for a team with experience, speed and plenty of WEC history, start here.
Ferrari
It’s Ferrari. If you’re an F1 fan, you already know why people will be watching. But Ferrari’s WEC program is a completely different operation from its F1 team. And its 499P Hypercar has become one of the most recognizable cars in endurance racing.
Cadillac
Want an American manufacturer to root for? Hello, Cadillac. Ricky Taylor will join the #12 Cadillac at COTA, bringing a massive amount of IMSA experience with him.
Porsche
Porsche and endurance racing go together like Austin and live music. The manufacturer has one of the deepest histories in the sport, making it another team worth watching.
Genesis
This is a particularly interesting one for Austin. Genesis Magma Racing is making its North American racing debut at Lone Star Le Mans.
So if you want to say you were there when the luxury brand brought its Hypercar program to the U.S. for the first time, this is your moment.
BMW M Team WRT
If you’re an F1 fan, or is you simply watched Drive to Survive, you may want to keep an eye on this team’s driver line up. It includes former F1 driver Kevin Magnussen, who drive for Haas in the Drive to Survive years.
Why COTA Makes This Race Even Better
If you’ve been to the United States Grand Prix, you already know Circuit of The Americas is one of the best racing venues in the country. The 20-turn, 5.513-kilometer circuit has everything from the ridiculously steep climb into Turn 1 to the fast Esses.
But WEC changes the experience.
Instead of watching cars race for roughly two hours, you’ll watch them attack COTA for six hours.
And Lone Star Le Mans is currently the only U.S. stop on the 2026 FIA WEC calendar.
Let’s Get Racing!
If you’ve been living in the F1 world, think of Lone Star Le Mans as your next motorsports adventure.
It’s faster than you think. More strategic than you expect. And considerably more chaotic than an F1 race.
