EWC Bol d’Or countdown is go

BOL D’OR ESSENTIALS:
Where: Circuit Paul Ricard
Location: RDN8 - 2760 Route des Hauts du Camp 83330, Le Castellet, France
When: 18-21 September 2025
Track length: 5.673 kilometres
Race distance: 24 hours

BEST LAPS:
Qualifying: BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team (Markus Reiterberger, 1m51.596s, 2023)
Race: BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team (Markus Reiterberger, 1m52.517s, 2024)

IN 100 WORDS:
After celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2022, the 88th edition of the world-famous Bol d’Or is the second of two 24-hour EWC races scheduled for 2025. Taking place at Circuit Paul Ricard in southern France for the 32nd time, the legendary event hosts the season decider from 18-21 September. Of the venue’s 5.673-kilometre layout, 1.8 kilometres are taken up by the imposing Mistral Straight. A place to pass and be passed, the Mistral requires motorcycles to run for 20 seconds at more than 300kph. Changeable weather and windy conditions can also be a factor during this epic and challenging event.

FAST FACTS:
*The Bol d’Or was first held in 1922 on a five-kilometre circuit of dirt roads between Vaujours, Clichy-sous-Bois and Livry-Gargan.
*Back then it was more a question of survival than an out-and-out race with one rider per motorcycle allowed and no stops except for refuelling.
*Competitors had to wait until 1954 before they could count on a team-mate with a third rider not permitted until 1978.
*While the Bol d’Or celebrated turning 100 in 2022, the event was actually the 85th running and the 29th edition to take place at Circuit Paul Ricard.
*World War II, waning public interest and the COVID-19 pandemic respectively resulted in no Bol d’Or between 1940-46, 1961-68 and 2020.

RECENT WINNERS:
2024: Yoshimura SERT Motul (Gregg Black, Dan Linfoot, Étienne Masson), 737 laps
2023: Yoshimura SERT Motul (Gregg Black, Sylvain Guintoli, Étienne Masson), 717 laps
2022: Viltaïs Racing Igol (Florian Alt, Erwan Nigon, Steven Odendaal) 718 laps
2021: Yoshimura SERT Motul (Gregg Black, Xavier Siméon, Sylvain Guintoli) 704 laps
2019: Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (Vincent Philippe, Étienne Masson, Gregg Black) 313 laps
2018: F.C.C. TSR Honda France (Freddy Foray, Josh Hook, Mike Di Meglio) 698 laps

PROVISIONAL KEY EWC TRACK TIMINGS (CET, SUBJECT TO CHANGE):
Thursday 18 September
14h00-16h00: Free Practice
17h20-17h40: First Qualifying (Blue Riders)
17h50-18h10: First Qualifying (Yellow Riders)
18h20-18h40: First Qualifying (Red Riders)
18h50-19h10: First Qualifying (Green Riders)
20h40-21h40: Night Practice

Friday 19 September
11h00-11h20: Second Qualifying (Blue Riders)
11h30-11h50: Second Qualifying (Yellow Riders)
12h00-12h20: Second Qualifying (Red Riders)
12h30-12h50: Second Qualifying (Green Riders)

Saturday 20 September
15h00: Start of the 88th Bol d’Or

Sunday 21 September
15h00: Finish of the 88th Bol d’Or