Yamaha Claims 3rd Straight EWC Title with Bol d’Or Podium

YART narrowly misses out on defending its FIM Endurance World Championship Teams’ title, Yamaha celebrates another Manufacturers’ crown after a dramatic 24-hour finale.

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Yamaha celebrated another milestone in the FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) after securing its third consecutive Manufacturers’ title at the 89th Bol d’Or, while the Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team finished third in the iconic 24-hour race and narrowly missed retaining the Teams’ championship by just four points.

The season finale at Circuit Paul Ricard delivered everything expected from endurance racing, with changing fortunes, crashes, overnight battles and a dramatic championship fight that lasted until the chequered flag.

Yamaha Clinches Manufacturers’ Championship Again

After 24 hours and nearly 4,200 kilometres of racing, YART crossed the finish line in third place aboard its Yamaha R1. While the result secured another podium finish for the Austrian outfit, it was not quite enough to defend the Teams’ title.

Their closest championship rival claimed victory in the Bol d’Or, earning enough points to secure the Teams’ championship with 158 points. YART finished the season with 154 points, only four behind.

However, Yamaha still had plenty to celebrate, as the Japanese manufacturer claimed its third consecutive FIM EWC Manufacturers’ Championship with 179 points, edging its nearest rival by just two points.

Difficult Weekend Before the Race Even Began

YART’s challenge became even tougher before the race officially started. Karel Hanika suffered a heavy crash during Tuesday’s private practice, leaving him with bruising and a wrist injury before another fall during qualifying. Marvin Fritz also crashed in free practice, while Leandro Mercado was another victim of oil left on the racing surface.

In total, the team endured four crashes across two days, forcing the mechanics to rebuild multiple Yamaha R1 machines before the start of the 24-hour race. Despite the setbacks, the reigning champions remained determined to defend their title.

Strong Recovery in the Opening Hours

Starting seventh on the grid, Marvin Fritz carefully negotiated the traditional Le Mans-style start before launching an impressive recovery through the field. After dropping to 16th during the opening corners, the German rider fought his way into third position within the first 30 minutes.

From there, YART settled into a consistent rhythm as Fritz, Mercado and Hanika rotated through their riding stints while remaining firmly inside the leading group.

Although different fuel strategies caused the running order to fluctuate, the Yamaha squad consistently stayed in podium contention throughout the opening hours.

Consistency Keeps YART in the Championship Fight

Endurance racing rewards consistency as much as outright speed, and YART demonstrated exactly that throughout the night. The team collected valuable championship points at both the eight-hour and 16-hour checkpoints while running fourth overall. However, their championship rivals led at both checkpoints, gradually reducing YART’s advantage in the standings.

Still, the Austrian squad avoided mistakes and mechanical issues, keeping their title hopes alive deep into the race. Meanwhile, the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team/KM99 Yamaha also impressed after climbing from ninth on the grid into the top five during the overnight stages.

Hanika Battles Through Pain

One of the standout performances came from Karel Hanika. Despite carrying injuries from multiple crashes earlier in the week, the Czech rider produced a remarkable stint during the early morning hours.

Hanika refused to surrender track position to the eventual race winner despite racing in considerable discomfort, helping YART remain within striking distance of another podium finish. His determination became one of the defining moments of Yamaha’s race.

Final Push Secures the Podium

With around four hours remaining, the third-placed machine crashed, allowing YART to move into the final podium position. Knowing that second place would have been enough to retain the Teams’ championship, Fritz pushed relentlessly during his final stint before handing the bike over to Mercado for the finish.

In the closing laps, the leading three motorcycles circulated together, but no late drama unfolded. Mercado eventually brought the Yamaha R1 home in third after completing 740 laps and more than 24 hours of faultless racing.

Although the podium was enough to score 42 championship points, it left YART four points short of successfully defending its world title.

Strong Season Provides Optimism for 2027

Despite the disappointment, YART enjoyed another outstanding season. The team claimed victory at the 24 Heures Motos, finished second at the 8 Hours of Spa, secured third at the Bol d’Or and placed fourth at the Suzuka 8 Hours.

Three podium finishes from four races underline the team’s consistency and provide a solid foundation heading into the 2027 campaign.

Yamaha Dominates Across Multiple Classes

In the Superstock class, the #36 3ART Best Of Bike Hamaguchi Yamaha R1 finished second in class and seventh overall, while Team 18 Pompiers Igol CMS Motostore secured fourth in class and tenth overall.

The #14 MACO Racing Team Yamaha R1 also finished inside the overall top ten, giving Yamaha four motorcycles among the race’s top ten finishers.

The #26 Audemar Motoclub Gemenos Yamaha R1 claimed victory, followed by the #96 Legacy Competition Yamaha in second, completing a one-two finish for the manufacturer.

Legacy Competition also secured enough points to win the FIM Production World Trophy for Teams, while Yamaha wrapped up the Manufacturers’ title in the Production category. Combined with the Formula EWC Manufacturers’ Championship, Yamaha completed an impressive championship treble at the end of the 2026 endurance racing season.

Riders Proud Despite Missing Out on Teams’ Title

Although disappointed to lose the Teams’ championship by just four points, the YART riders praised the team’s resilience throughout an incredibly demanding week.

Marvin Fritz highlighted the team’s victory at Le Mans and three podium finishes as proof of another strong campaign while expressing confidence that YART would return stronger next season.

Karel Hanika admitted he was unsure if he would even be fit enough to race following multiple crashes but thanked the team for rebuilding the bikes and supporting him throughout the weekend.

Leandro Mercado described his first season with YART as a success after contributing to three podium finishes and a victory, while Team Manager Mandy Kainz praised the mechanics and riders for completing the 24-hour race without a single technical problem after rebuilding the bikes multiple times earlier in the week.

While the Teams’ championship slipped away by the narrowest of margins, Yamaha’s third straight Manufacturers’ title and another podium finish reinforce the manufacturer’s status as one of endurance racing’s dominant forces heading into 2027.