Long-distance racing for motorcycles has roots stretching back to the earliest decades of the sport. The Bol d'Or, the most prestigious event on the modern calendar, was first held in 1922 on the beaten-earth circuit of Vaujours near Paris, a venue that had hosted 24-hour bicycle competitions since 1888. Other significant endurance races emerged after World War II: the 24-hour race in Warsage, Belgium (1951), the 500 Miles of Thruxton (1955), the 24 Hours of Montjuich in Barcelona (1957), and the 24 Hours of Monza (1959).
The series was founded in 1960 as the FIM Endurance Cup. Its original four events were the Thruxton 500, the 24 Hours of Montjuic, the 24 Hours of Warsage, and the Bol d'Or. During this first decade races took place primarily in Great Britain, Italy, and Spain. The Bol d'Or was not held between 1961 and 1968, and in its absence the 1000 km of Paris — run twice on the Montlhéry circuit — partially filled the gap.
In 1976 the FIM Endurance Cup was elevated to European Championship status, and in 1980 it became a full World Championship. Through the 1980s the calendar expanded to as many as ten events. As the decade progressed, however, participation declined and the calendar contracted to what became known as the four "classics": the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 24 Hours of Liège (held at Spa-Francorchamps), the 8 Hours of Suzuka, and the Bol d'Or (raced predominantly at Paul Ricard or Magny-Cours). In 1989 and 1990 the championship was temporarily downgraded to World Cup status when the number of qualifying events fell below the FIM Sporting Code's minimum requirement.
The four-event format was maintained through 2016, with the 24 Hours of Liège eventually replaced by other rounds. In 2015 FIM and Eurosport signed a promotional and broadcast agreement that prompted a reorganisation of the calendar: events were shifted to begin in autumn and finish in summer, with the European rounds placed outside the MotoGP and Superbike World Championship windows to avoid conflicts. Since 2022 the championship has comprised four rounds, opening with the 24 Heures Motos at the Le Mans Bugatti Circuit and closing with the Bol d'Or at Circuit Paul Ricard. The current calendar visits France twice and also includes rounds in Belgium and Japan.
Motorcycles entered in the championship must be based on production road-going models holding valid FIM homologation. Four competition classes exist within the series.
Formula EWC is the top tier, identified by a black number plate background. Teams have latitude to modify suspension components, brakes, radiators, exhausts, and engine internals, and may fit a quick wheel-change chassis system. Eligible machines are four-stroke engines: four cylinders of over 600 cc to 1000 cc, three cylinders of over 750 cc to 1000 cc, or two cylinders of over 850 cc to 1200 cc.
Superstock, carrying a red number plate, is essentially based on standard production engines with very limited permitted modifications — fuel mapping, clutch reinforcement, and a different exhaust silencer. Wheel specification must remain as homologated. The displacement windows mirror those of Formula EWC.
The Experimental category, marked with a green plate, admits motorcycles whose engine, main frame, or suspension differ fundamentally from the original production design. These machines appear in the general race classification but do not score World Championship points; they are admitted at the Race Selection Committee's discretion on the basis of technical or innovative interest, and may include electric machines.
Production World Trophy, the entry-level class with a blue plate, uses machines closest to the road-going originals. Fuel tanks are capped at 16 litres and replaced at pit stops via rapid safety connector rather than being refuelled in situ. Dunlop is the exclusive tyre supplier for this class. A mandatory minimum pit-stop duration applies for safety reasons.
In both Formula EWC and Superstock the fuel tank is modified to a maximum capacity of 24 litres and fitted with a quick-refuelling device. For races lasting twelve to twenty-four hours, the top ten teams at the eight-hour and sixteen-hour marks receive bonus points; manufacturers do not receive these interim bonuses. The top five qualifiers on the starting grid also earn additional points at each round.