The return of the classic French 24 hour races to the FIM World Endurance Championship calendar has attracted a record number of “permanent” team entries. Full Calendar The 2006 World Endurance Championship calendar sees the return to the championship of the classic Le Mans 24 Hour and Bol d’Or 24 Hour races after an absence of four years. Together with the now well established Oschersleben 24 Hour race, the three middle distance events at Albacete, Zolder and Suzuka and the season opening Assen 500km sprint, the addition of the two classic 24 hour events means that the endurance season stretches to almost one hundred hours of racing. The full calendar is as follows: “¢ April 17: Assen 500km Netherlands “¢ April 22/23: Le Mans 24 Hours France “¢ May 20: Albacete 8 Hours Spain “¢ June 18: Zolder 6 Hours Belgium “¢ July 30: Suzuka 8 Hours Japan “¢ August 12/13: Oschersleben 24 Hours Germany “¢ September 16/17: Bol d’Or 24 Hours (Magny Cours) – France Record Number of Entries The 2006 World Endurance Championship calendar has sparked a huge increase in interest in the championship. This is reflected in the record number of teams requesting “permanent” status and entering for a full season of endurance racing. 24 teams are featured in the official championship entry list, representing a mix of experienced campaigners and new entrants drawn from 17 nations. Many of those entering the full championship for the first time have a long history of competing in endurance and could bring a real challenge to the established teams we espect to see fighting for podium positions. With the first race being a 500km sprint and the second being a real test of stamina for man and machine, it’s impossible to make any championship predictions… The first round of the World Endurance Championship will be held at Assen, Netherlands, on Easter Monday, the 17th of April, with the Le Mans 24 Hour race held a week later on the 22nd and 23rd of April.