Bourdais: FIA Categorisation Rules Force Veterans Into Early Retirement

Veteran driver Sébastien Bourdais has expressed his frustration with the FIA driver categorisation system, which he says closes the door on experienced drivers like himself. Having been confirmed as no longer racing for Cadillac in next season's World Endurance Championship (WEC), the 47-year-old feels the rules are effectively hastening his early retirement.

Bourdais will contest his final race with Cadillac at the WEC season finale in Monza, Italy, this weekend. The Jota works team has signed Antonio Felix da Costa and Ricky Taylor for its 2027 Hypercar line-up, leaving no seat for Bourdais. The decision means he must look for a new drive at an age that is no longer young.

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Bourdais revealed that his status as a platinum driver—the highest rating in the FIA classification—has become an obstacle. Many teams in sportscar racing reserve seats for silver- or bronze-rated drivers, who are usually younger or less experienced. “Unfortunately, the categorisation for drivers like me just leads to retirement,” he said.

He explained that his platinum rating will stay with him until he is 55, then change to gold, and only at 60 might it drop to silver. Meanwhile, other drivers such as Emmanuel Collard can obtain a silver rating as soon as they turn 50. “That would be very nice, but that is not how it works. It is annoying, but that is what happens,” Bourdais added.

Despite losing his Cadillac seat, Bourdais has not closed the door on continuing to compete. He says he is in talks with several parties, but no contract is final yet. “There are conversations, but nothing that has led to a contract. There are some people we are talking to,” he said. He also dismissed the possibility of returning to IndyCar, which he says is very unlikely.

Bourdais stressed that he is open to all kinds of racing cars—GT, LMP2, or Hypercar—as long as he is welcomed into a supportive environment. “All I want is to race in a programme where someone really wants me to drive their car. For me, that is where I have always performed at my best and felt happy,” he said. “I don't need a particular category to feel at home. When you are a professional and lucky enough to race, whether it is GT, P2, or GTP, it doesn't matter. You can have fun in any series.”

His desire to keep racing is undiminished. “Nothing excites me like driving a race car. It is still what I enjoy most,” he said. “I know this won't last another 10 years. When it is over, there is no way back. I am in no rush to see it disappear. I have plenty of time to enjoy retirement.”

Recalling his time with Cadillac, Bourdais named this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans as his most memorable moment. “There were some good moments. Of course the 1-2 finish in Sao Paulo last year. That made the decision not to continue a little bitter,” he recalled. “But in the end, the high point was our Le Mans weekend this year. We were very competitive and could lead Le Mans again and feel we had a real chance to win overall. That was a really cool moment.”

He also rated this season with the JOTA team as his best achievement, with consistent results in the last three races. “For me, this year is the peak of the JOTA programme. We finished second, fourth, and fourth in the last three races with the car that scored the most points across those three events. So yes, we will just try to keep this trend going,” he explained.

Ahead of his final race at Monza, Bourdais says he does not yet feel emotional. “Not yet. I have had plenty of time to think about it. In the end, you have to approach it like a normal race weekend. The target is the same as usual, trying to do the best we can with the level of performance we have this weekend,” he said. He is optimistic that the Monza circuit will suit their car's characteristics better than Barcelona. “I think the car's potential and quality should suit Monza better than Barcelona. There is no high or low limit for the result, just do your best. If it is a podium or a win, it would be very nice to finish well.”

The Bourdais case highlights another side of the FIA regulations, which aim to balance competition by giving non-platinum drivers a chance. However, the rules are seen as penalising senior drivers who remain competitive. Amid increasingly fierce sportscar competition, the FIA may need to review its categorisation system so that no experienced talent is pushed out before their time. The question is, will the FIA revise these rules before more veterans suffer the same fate?