From a press release issued by FGSport Group:

World Endurance Keeps on Growing

The 2004 World Endurance Championship is already generating huge interest, ten weeks before the first race of the season.

Seven Manufacturers

Seven different manufacturers are already represented in the championship. Yamaha are making their presence felt, with 2003 world champions Phase One joining several other top teams to run the much improved ’04 R1. The ultra competitive Suzuki France team make a welcome return to the series, adding strength to the proven GSX-R1000’s reputation. Kawasaki have a brand new model in the shape of the ZX10R and a coordinated entry from Bolliger and Diablo GB will make the most of the bike’s abilities. Honda are also back in force, with the Honda Austria putting three well know riders on board the new for ’04 Fireblade.

Benelli see the World Endurance Championship as a vital part of the development of the Tornado Tre, with an official works entry for X-One team. MV Agusta are another returnee to the championship, in the shape of the semi-privateer and very experienced German Burger King Lust team, and there will also be at least one semi-privateer Ducati 999 on the grid for the first race at Assen in April.

Tyre and Team Commitment

The level of professionalism and investment by World Endurance teams is building year-on-year, and this is backed by the growing support that will be seen in the endurance paddock in 2004. Four tyre brands will be involved from the start of the championship, reflecting the tough challenge of long distance racing at the highest level. The teams themselves are also becoming increasingly committed, with most having already begun their pre-season testing programme at circuits in southern Spain.

Rider Opportunity

With the World Endurance year now stretching from test sessions in January through to the final round of the series in October more and more professional riders are looking on the championship as a very real and full-time opportunity to build on their international racing career. There is now a proven path from the academy teams to the upper levels for junior riders, and from World Endurance to World Superbikes for riders who can prove themselves in the increasingly competitive Endurance championship.

58 Hours, 7 Events, 10 Nations

With 58 hours of racing at seven major international events across Europe, Japan and China, and teams from ten nations running bikes from seven different manufacturers and riders from over a dozen countries the World Endurance Championship just keeps on growing.