Two major manufacturers interested in WEC Hypercar entry

The World Endurance Championship could be on the verge of a major breakthrough in China, with automotive giants Chery and Lynk & Co (Geely) preparing for potential entries into Hypercar.

While Chery has already presented an official roadmap through to 2030, Lynk & Co is realigning its motorsport activities toward endurance racing following its surprise exit from the TCR World Tour, where it is being replaced by Geely’s core brand in 2026.

Following the unexpected setback to the ‘Golden Era’ of endurance racing caused by Porsche’s withdrawal from Hypercar, the Chinese automotive industry could prove to be a vital compensatory factor for co-promoter Automobile Club de’l Ouest.

Chery plans major infrastructure project

To date, the rapid global expansion of Chinese brands has not been reflected on the international motorsport stage, but this is set to change fundamentally. During the Asian Le Mans Series season opener in Sepang, the state-owned Chery Group, China’s fourth-largest automaker, outlined an ambitious five-year roadmap.

At the core is its premium brand EXEED, which has been in existence since 2017. Chery Automobile itself was founded in 1997.

The ultimate goal is to become the first Chinese manufacturer to fight for overall victory in the Hypercar class at the Le Mans 24 Hours.

The plan consists of three stages:

• Establishing a domestic endurance racing series to build technical capability and talent
• Competing in the Asian Le Mans Series
• Forming an EXEED factory team to contest Le Mans, aiming to become the first Chinese manufacturer team to do so 

A particularly noteworthy detail is that Chery announced the signing of an agreement with the ACO on 13 December, which goes far beyond a traditional branding exercise.

Part of this «full-scale collaboration» involves the development of a Le Mans-certified circuit in Wuhu (Anhui), where the headquarters of the group are located.

Chery intends to make a major impact in motorsport, using it as a proving ground for the efficiency and reliability of its upcoming production models, which are set to enter the European market in the coming years.

Lynk & Co: From TCR success to Hypercar?

Meanwhile, a strategic realignment is underway at a rival camp. Lynk & Co, the sporting spearhead of the Geely Group (widely known in Europe as the parent company of Volvo and Polestar), is ending its highly successful TCR World Tour effort.

After Cyan Racing claimed three drivers’ and four manufacturers’ titles across the World Touring Car Cup and its successor, the TCR World Tour, Geely made a surprise announcement in November.

Instead of a second facelift for the Lynk & Co 03, Cyan Racing will field the Geely Preface starting in 2026, marking the end of Lynk & Co’s touring car efforts.

Amidst this transition, Lynk & Co grabbed headlines with a spectacular announcement on social media: «Lynk & Co will expand from circuit racing and sprint racing to rally and endurance racing, which test the comprehensive performance of vehicles.»

While it remains unclear whether this refers to GT3, prototypes or both, rumours of Geely’s Le Mans ambitions have persisted for several years. Further, Lynk & Co is currently one of the most recognised Chinese car brands in the Western world.

Multiple TCR champion Yann Ehrlacher is also preparing for the demands of prototype racing with an LMP2 entry for ARC Bratislava in the Asian Le Mans Series. This represents a classic development path for a future top-tier programme. His previous prototype experience is limited to LMP3 stints between 2016 and 2019.

How Chinese will the WEC become?

Should both programmes come to fruition, it would significantly shift the tectonic plates of the WEC. Currently, with the exceptions of Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar Land Rover’s parent Tata Motors, every major traditional automotive group is represented in the Hypercar class.

However, China is currently reshaping the global automotive market at record speed and is now poised to extend its influence into motorsport.

Outside of Macau, China lacked a deep-rooted motorsport culture for a long time, but the sport is developing rapidly. Its popularity has surged, not least due to the Formula 1 race in Shanghai, where the WEC also maintained a presence until 2019.

If these plans materialise, particularly regarding Chery’s infrastructure-heavy approach, the level of investment would likely eclipse the programmes of all currently engaged manufacturers and might also shape the political landscape within the sport.

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— The Motorsport.com Team