#1Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team

The Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team contests the Endurance World Championship (EWC) full-time with former rider and team manager Mandy Kainz at the helm. The team’s parent organization, the Yamaha Austria Racing Team (YART) is also a large-scale dealer of Yamaha Motor products, among various other pursuits. The team began racing in 2001 and started competing in the EWC in 2002. After ranking 3rd in the 2005 season, they consistently challenged for the title, placing 2nd, 3rd and 2nd again in the championship before finally clinching the team’s first EWC title in 2009 with four victories.

Looking at YART’s results in recent years, the team has displayed extremely fast pace across the board and has been a consistent championship contender. However, bad luck has kept the title just out of reach several times. The 2023 season was different, however, as YART’s lineup consisted of Karel Hanika, Marvin Fritz, and Niccolò Canepa for the third year in a row. To start their campaign, the team took a 2nd place finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and followed it up with a win at the Spa 24 Hours, which was their first win since Estoril 2020, and their first 24-hour race win in 14 years. The win lifted them to the top of the championship standings. Continuing their challenge at the Suzuka 8 Hours resulted in a 23rd place finish due to a machine issue, which dropped them down to 2nd overall, 13 points behind the leaders. It all came down to the final round of the season, the 24 Hours of Bol d'Or, where YART took 4th, coming from behind to win their first title since 2009.

As defending champions for 2024, the team swapped their usual race number 7 for the number 1. After finishing 3rd in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and winning the 8 Hours of Spa, they came into the Suzuka 8 Hours in 2nd with a one-point gap to the leaders. They took the team’s first ever 8 Hours podium finish and moved into the championship lead. However, despite finishing 3rd at the 24 Hours of Bol d'Or, they were unable to win the title and completed the season in 2nd.

Following the retirement of Niccolò Canepa, who had been a key member of the team since 2019, a new lineup was put in place for 2025 including newcomer Jason O’Halloran. At the opening round, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the team took its first victory since 2009, and in the 8 Hours of Spa, they overcame three crashes to finish on the podium in 3rd, heading into the Suzuka 8 Hours as the championship leaders. Despite retiring after two crashes in that race, they held the championship lead by a single point heading into the season finale, the 24 Hours of Bol d’Or. There, the rival team for the title had an issue and dropped positions, allowing YART to finish 2nd. As a result, they clinched their third EWC title with a margin of only a single point.

YART enters the 2026 season with the goal of defending their EWC title and securing a historic fourth overall crown. This year marks a new chapter for the squad, as the veteran expertise of Leandro Mercado joins the lineup to replace Jason O’Halloran. The campaign is already off to positive start following a second consecutive victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, providing the team with significant early-season momentum. Looking ahead to the Suzuka 8 Hours, YART aims to secure a double podium alongside the Yamaha Factory Racing Team—a result that would place them in a commanding position to repeat as world champions in 2026.

EWC Team Results