This article is part of a three-part series evaluating which racing series are best positioned to replicate Formula 1’s meteoric rise via a Drive to Survive-style transformation.

This 3-part series breaks down exactly what that readiness looks like.

Part 1 - The Scorecard: A framework to evaluate which motorsport series are ready for a Drive to Survive-style leap.
Part 2 - The Tradeoff: Why growing your audience means disappointing your purists.
Part 3 - The Case Study: A deep-dive into the most viable candidate outside of F1, and what it would take to cross the threshold.

If you're an exec, sponsor, or rights holder, this is the blueprint.

In Part 1 we used an objective scorecard to assess media and market readiness across the biggest global motorsports properties. The result: only the WEC sits within striking distance of the all-important 4.0 benchmark that makes such a leap possible.

In Part 2 we made the case that to reach “escape velocity” for growth a series has to be ready and willing to disappoint its historically loyal viewers, in service of a more dynamic audience.

In Part 3, we apply this framework to the most viable candidate outside Formula 1: the WEC.

The foundation is there.

Now it’s time to make the leap.

Summary results from Part 1 of this series (click image to be taken there).

The WEC is already riding a wave of momentum

The WEC’s recent progress goes far beyond what the scorecard metrics capture. In fact, it’s arguably secured its position as the world’s second-most prestigious racing series after Formula 1. Here’s what that looks like in practice:

A stable, manufacturer-friendly ruleset: The Hypercar regulations encourage brand expression while keeping costs controlled. Grids are full, with new entries from Ford, McLaren, and Genesis on the horizon. Recognizing the formula works, the FIA has now extended these regulations through 2032, a second extension from the original expiration in 2029.
A consistent, logistics-optimized calendar: The 2024, 2025, and 2026 seasons all share the same race schedule. While some fans may want more variety, this consistency enables teams to refine logistics, reduce costs, and plan with confidence.
Global expansion through ALMS: Beginning with the 2026/2027 season, Hypercars will headline the Asian Le Mans Series. Though fielded by privateers rather than factory teams, this move places top-class endurance racing directly in front of new audiences, potentially bringing Hypercars to Sepang, a fan-favorite circuit absent from the F1 calendar.
A growing digital ecosystem: Le Mans Ultimate has become a high-quality sim racing platform with an expanding player base. The planned inclusion of the European Le Mans Series will add visibility for European endurance racing and reinforce the broader sportscar ladder.
Solid content infrastructure: The WEC’s YouTube and social presence is polished and growing. Its Full Access series, hour-long behind-the-scenes episodes released after each race, is strong fan service. But the format is still too insider-oriented to achieve Drive to Survive-style reach: lots of “show,” almost no “tell.”
A world-class anchor event: The 24 Hours of Le Mans is a crown jewel. It draws 350,000 spectators (comparable to the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix) but remains a tough sell for casual fans due to its length. That’s a missed opportunity. The week-long buildup to Le Mans offers enormous potential for lifestyle content, celebrity involvement, and behind-the-scenes storytelling that’s currently going untapped.

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In less than 500 words.

An initial plan backed up by data

The scorecard wasn’t the end goal, it was a diagnostic tool. Now we know exactly which levers matter most if the WEC wants to hit escape velocity through a Drive to Survive-style breakthrough:

A more globally diverse calendar
Increased celebrity presence (unpopular with purists, but critical for mainstream appeal)
Clear hero drivers to rally behind
Greater readiness for a luxury fan experience

The strategy should follow the 80/20 rule: 80% of results will come from the top 20% of actions. The scorecard weightings help us identify those high-yield moves.

But here’s the challenge: the biggest-impact changes are also the most expensive. A night race through Las Vegas might be the dream, but is it remotely feasible?

Likely not in the short or medium-terms, so where do we start?

F1 fans are the “low-hanging fruit” for growth

F1 is the gateway to motorsport, but every seasoned fan eventually starts looking for more and that’s where the WEC comes in, offering:

Variety: Different looking cars, unique strategies, multiple classes, and the visual spectacle of highly distinguishable prototypes and GTs sharing a track.
Depth: Ex-F1 talent like Kobayashi, Button, and Giovinazzi provide name recognition. But the format allows for deeper story arcs, both human and technical.
“Elbows-out” racing: Less DRS, more actual passing. Strategic variation. Tire wear that matters. Driver fatigue as a factor.

Anecdotally, F1 fans have already started implementing the WEC into their viewing schedule, so conceptually the cross-over appeal exists.

The next step is to put a plan in place to pull in the rest, by positioning the WEC as the next level.

The strategy is as follows:

Target the disillusioned or curious F1 audience with clear differentiation.
Build critical mass on racing merit: full grids, unpredictable outcomes, manufacturer prestige.
Layer in broader appeal: personalities, culture, behind-the-scenes storytelling.
Use crossover where possible to get the ball rolling: For instance, could Ferrari have its F1 drivers make (even limited) content with a Hypercar? Could McLaren have its drivers “hype up” the introduction of the brand’s Hypercar?

Once this low-hanging fruit is captured, the WEC will be positioned not just as an alternative, but as a complement.

This does not yet get the series to escape velocity, that will require additional actions.

What’s in a name? Everything.

One of the biggest obstacles to the WEC’s growth is accessibility, not just in format, but in perception. Compared to Formula 1, the WEC feels dense, confusing, and hard to follow.

A bold solution?

Change the name.

The term “World Endurance Championship” is accurate but uninspiring. It doesn’t convey speed, glamour, or status. Ideally, we’d run various studies and focus groups to nail down a new moniker but for the purposes of this case study we suggest:

Renaming the WEC to LMP1, enabling:

Stronger brand alignment: LMP1 ties back to a well-regarded age of cutting-edge endurance racing, and has F1 connotations.
Simplified messaging: LMP1 sounds elite, technical, and immediate.
Clear structure: The two existing classes, Hypercar and LMGT3, would remain under the LMP1 series

This two-class structure of the WEC (which we’ll continue using for clarity) is obvious to those in the know, but to most people, racing means one type of car on-track.

Just as importantly, the series must recognize how overwhelming it is for new fans to follow dozens of cars from different manufacturers, run by independent teams, and driven by rotating lineups; all this creates a dizzying web of variables to track.

Addressing the WEC’s lack of casual accessibility

The WEC doesn’t need reinvention, it needs translation, and a Drive to Survive-style series would provide not only the perfect educational format for a potential audience, but also the catalyst for changes within the series itself to make it more accessible, while keeping all the elements that make it unique in place.

Indeed, the challenge isn’t to overhaul the series from scratch, but to repackage it with intention, and a Drive to Survive-style series is the perfect opportunity to educate future audiences in an engaging way that makes them want to engage further with the WEC.

Here’s where that transformation begins.

1. Build a narrative engine, not just a broadcast

A Drive to Survive-style show doesn’t explain racing, it dramatizes it to get people engaged and then delivers more substantial content (race strategy understanding, driver recognition) once the audience is hooked.

The WEC’s content currently assumes the viewer already cares when in fact that won’t be the case at all for casual viewers.

Each episode should center on conflict, risk, and resolution: a team’s strategy gamble, a rivalry boiling over, a technical failure that almost destroyed a race weekend.
Use team radio and in-car footage as emotional beats, not as ambient B-roll. Let audiences feel the pressure, not just observe it.
Bring in the WEC’s broadcast team to play Will Buxton’s Drive to Survive role to translate what’s at stake.

2. Cast the grid like a drama series

Every sports docuseries is secretly a casting project. Who are the heroes? The villains? The underdogs?

Identify crossover-ready drivers and build mini-arcs around them. Robert Kubica and Yifei Ye winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time, for themselves and their respective countries. Tell that story.
Spotlight off-track moments that build humanity: family sacrifices, training regimens, clashes with engineers.
Frame rivalries with deliberate pacing. Porsche vs. Ferrari is the motorsport equivalent of Yankees vs. Red Sox. Use it.

3. Anchor each race in stakes and culture

You’re not selling a race, you’re selling why this race matters.

Start every episode with a question: “Who has the most to lose today?” Let the stakes shape the tension.
Wrap the race in local texture: What makes Spa different from Fuji? What’s the atmosphere like in São Paulo? Let culture and fanaticism and life and passion infuse into the storytelling.
Compress and dramatize race time; six hours on track can become 40 minutes of emotional rhythm.

4. Use the digital to seed emotional hooks for the physical race track

The docuseries should be the centerpiece, but short-form digital is where characters get built.

Pre-season drop: “Meet the Grid” character intros; high-quality, fast-cut portraits of each driver with personal stakes attached.
Weekly behind-the-scenes: recovery days, travel mishaps, pit crew dynamics, mechanics sweating over an engine re-build.
Hand the reins to real creators, not legacy motorsport editors. The tone should be cinematic, not corporate.

5. Visually decode the chaos

Assume that most people watching have no idea what’s going on.

Early episodes should explain the class system and multi-driver format through visuals, without jargon.
Point out running visual cues: LED lights, flags, any other relevant signals and markers. These become emotional identifiers over time.
Clarify the battlefield: who’s actually fighting whom, and why.
Put the full beauty of the WEC’s competitor field (cars, drivers, liveries) on full display.

6. Redefine endurance as EPIC

The word “endurance” undersells the drama. You’re not just surviving a long race, you’re chasing transcendence and history.

Treat every stint like a chapter in a hero’s arc: stress, fatigue, near-collapse, and the decision to push through.
Make the viewer feel the toll. Sweaty hands on the wheel. Frustration in the garage. The vibe of a night shift in the cockpit.
This isn’t “long.” This is legendary.

7. Elevate data into tension

Most motorsport data is invisible to the public. That’s a marketing waste.

Visualize fuel deltas, tire degradation, and stint timing as strategic dilemmas; when a team rolls the dice, make the audience feel the risk.
Use graphics sparingly but meaningfully. Predictive overlays should build suspense, not just inform.
Develop a second-screen strategy: companion app or YouTube explainer videos that turn diehards into evangelists.

8. Stick the emotional landing

The race is only over when the viewer feels it.

Build to a final crescendo: team members climbing fences, drivers crawling out of cockpits, raw, breathless interviews moments after the flag.
Host podium ceremonies like a celebration of survival. Everyone didn’t just finish, they endured and made a mark.
Use music, lighting, and pacing to leave viewers with chills, not just results.

The WEC is very close to taking off

The structure is sound. The ingredients are there. What’s missing is translation; turning complexity into clarity, tradition into drama, and endurance into emotional connection.

A Drive to Survive-style series isn’t just a marketing tool; it’s the ignition point for a broader transformation. One that doesn’t dilute what makes the WEC great, but amplifies it for a world that’s ready to care, if you give them a reason.

The next global motorsport phenomenon is waiting.

Now is the time to light the fuse.

Are you ready to optimize your series’ marketing potential?

At Vaucher Analytics, we help race teams and manufacturers turn racing budgets into brand capital.

If you’re serious about making your motorsport series matter beyond the podium, let’s talk.

Book your 30-minute discovery call by contacting us today:

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Via email at contact@vaucheranalytics.com

Photo credit: Christos Papadopoulous via Unsplash

Part 3 - The Case Study - Drive To Survive: WEC Edition