九月 14 日，FIM EWC 世界耐力赛（FIM Endurance World Championship）2024 赛季第四站的比赛、法国波尔多二十四小时耐力赛（Bol d'Or 24）的正赛开始前夕，FIM 国际摩联、Yamaha Motor 欧洲分公司和 WBD 华纳兄弟探索体育欧洲公司（Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe，EWC 世界耐力赛的承办和独家推广公司），召开了新闻发布会，会上宣布在 2025 赛季开始，推出一系列的新措施，以及全新的 Yamaha R7 耐力系列赛（Yamaha R7 Endurance Series）。
In order to further increase the attractiveness of the EWC, increase the number of participants and form a development ladder for different classes, a series of new changes for the 2025 season were also announced: in addition to the existing top-level EWC and Superstock (STK1000), a Production model group will be added. All three classes use FIM-certified production models in the 1000 cc class as their base cars, with the main difference being the degree of restriction on vehicle modifications. The three classes will be played together, with the EWC class for the EWC World Championship, the Superstock for the FIM Endurance World Cup and the production class for the FIM Production World Trophy.
The base car of the Production production group is the same as the other two higher competition classes, but only basic modifications are allowed, the cost of entry for each team is controlled in the form of rules, and only modified components that are available on the sales market are allowed. In addition, with this in mind, this class will also be refueled differently from the other two classes: after the pit stops, teams will only be able to use a standard tank equipped with a quick-release design, rather than directly refueling the tank (meaning removing the tank from the vehicle and replacing it with a new tank that is already full). In addition, for safety reasons, future rules will limit the minimum time a vehicle can stop after entering the station. The full rules will be announced at a later date, and the suppliers of this group, single brand of tyres will be confirmed at a later date.
The new Yamaha R7 Endurance Series, which will complement the EWC World Endurance Race, is tentatively scheduled to take place as a support race at two of the EWC 2025 European Season Events. The Yamaha YZF-R7 is designed to provide an affordable, entry-to-world endurance class and a potential starting point for drivers or teams looking to compete in the EWC in the future. This category will be open to everyone, and drivers can race for an existing EWC team, or for another private team. The unified model will provide a level playing field for all participants and provide a platform for drivers and teams to progress from national to international level.
Next year's EWC will feature four races: the 24 Hours of Le Mans (also known as Le Mans) in France, the 8 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, the 8 Hours of Suzuka in Japan and the 24 Hours of Bordeaux. It has not yet been decided which of the three European races next year will be supported by this ancillary event.
From the entry-level Yamaha R7 endurance series, to the new Production production model group, and finally the existing Superstock, to the top-level EWC, driven by United States capital, EWC seems to be about to usher in a new era.
Pictured below, the Yamaha R7 European SuperFinale in a side event format before the start of the 24 Hours of Bordeaux in France. At the race, the YART Austria Yamaha team, last year's world champion in the World Endurance Championship and the No. 1 car, also demonstrated the quick tire change in the endurance race for the participants.
In recent years, from road racing to off-road racing, Yamaha has been racing uniform models in Europe. Whereas, the Yamaha R7 Cup (Nations Cup and Challenge) was held in seven European countries this year, with more than 150 riders participating.