Eurosport will continue to be the home of the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours race after it signed a new agreement to broadcast the FIA World Endurance Championship for the next three seasons.
The extension of the current deal, negotiated with race organisers Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) and Le Mans Endurance Management, covers the 2014, 2015 and 2016 campaigns.
The pan-European broadcaster’s new deal involves all live TV and digital rights for Le Mans 24 Hours, plus the other seven rounds of the FIA WEC, in a total of 71 countries in Europe – including the UK – and Asia-Pacific region
Eurosport will broadcast every minute of the iconic 24-Hour race live across channels Eurosport and Eurosport 2 as well as on internet and mobile on the Eurosport Player online TV service up to and including the 2016 race.
The channel’s extensive coverage is also enhanced with the live broadcast of the free sessions, qualifying sessions and “Le Mans 24 Minutes” magazine, the daily on-site show produced by the channel during Le Mans week.
Launched in 2012, the rising FIA Endurance World Championship includes eight 6-hour rounds at some of the most iconic motorsport locations in the world, including Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps, Le Mans, the new Circuit of the Americas and Fuji.
Eurosport will broadcast the last hour of each round live and in high definition, bringing viewers all the excitement of the endurance racing on legendary circuits as well as in destinations where the history of motor sport is yet to develop.
The winners of the FIA WEC were last year the winners of Le Mans too – Marcel Fässler, Benoît Tréluyer and André Lotterer for Audi.
Jean-Thierry Augustin, Eurosport Group chief executive, said: “Le Mans 24 Hours is the most famous car racing event in history and one of the highlights of our programming.
“Viewers will not miss a minute of the race wherever they are, with our round-the-clock live coverage on air, online and on mobile.
“They will also enjoy unique editorial extras brought each year by our teams on site.
“The extension of our long-standing relationship with ACO also enables us to guarantee fans the very best of endurance racing throughout the whole season with the eight rounds of the FIA WEC.”
British Eurosport will provide comprehensive coverage of the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours race.
