A new victim has now been added to the list of those affected by KTM’s recent financial situation: the Hard Enduro World Championship of the FIM. Apparently, the Austrian brand has announced that it is withdrawing the financial support it offered until now to the company in charge of organizing it, WESS Promotion GmbH, as detailed on the event’s official website.
This new chapter of the current economic crisis that affects the KTM group puts the survival of the current model on which the Hard Enduro World Championship is developed against the wall.
In a recent SpeedWeek interview with Winfried Kerschhaggl, general director of WESS Promotion, he clarifies the situation facing the World Championship and what the future plans are to guarantee its continuity.
The Hard Enduro World Championship in 2025
As Kerschhaggl explains to the German media “WESS Promotion GmbH is in the process of liquidation. This not only affects us as an organization, but also on a personal level. Despite this, our management team is determined to continue the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship under a new legal entity. The WESS Promotion GmbH existed to cover our operating costs and was mainly financed by KTM.”
The Hard Enduro World Championship in 2025 faces new challenges and these include: “Largely maintain the previously announced schedule. However, if necessary, changes are likely to be made to overseas races, specifically the Outliers event in Canada.”
On the other hand, Kerschhaggl confirms that they have already spoken with a good part of the organizers and participants of the Hard Enduro World Championship and they “They want the championship to continue. Most also want this to happen in collaboration with the FIM. Furthermore, they prefer to continue with the current management team because the experience and lessons of recent years provide a solid foundation. “We have also contacted potential sponsors immediately and initial conversations have been very promising.”
Regarding the changes that are to come, warn that “We can now seriously consider allowing electric motorcycles or even introducing a category dedicated to four-stroke motorcycles. “This opens up opportunities to create new platforms where manufacturers, drivers, sponsors and customers can showcase themselves in the world of elite motorsport.”
