Senior World Cup for 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship

The FIM Hard Enduro World Championship confirms the introduction of a Senior World Cup category for the 2026 season, a new category aimed at recognising experienced riders aged 40 and above who continue to push their competitive edge.  

This new category creates a dedicated platform for veteran competitors to be officially ranked, acknowledged and rewarded across the 2026 HEWC season. 

Format and Eligibility

• The Senior World Cup is open to riders aged 40 or older on the day of the event. 
• To compete, riders must hold a valid FIM Enduro License and register either for the Full HEWC Championship or Senior World Cup classification. 
• Senior riders compete in their chosen class (Gold, Silver or Bronze) and their finishing position among other 40+ riders determines World Cup points. 

This new category is open to all experience levels, from ex-factory racers to long-time amateurs who simply refuse to slow down. 

“Hard Enduro is a sport that rewards skill and consistency, qualities that don’t disappear with age,” said Ross Whitehead, HEWC Championship Director. “The Senior World Cup is about celebrating those riders who continue to take on the world’s hardest enduro races year after year and getting rewarded for it.” 

How to Enter

1. Register for the 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship with your valid FIM License. 
2. Competed in one or more championship rounds. 

A season-long leaderboard will track all eligible riders and crown the overall winner at the final round of the 2026 season. 

Points and Classification

• The Senior World Cup uses the official HEWC points system, awarding points to the top 15 senior finishers at each round. 
• Points are assigned based on finishing position among other Senior-registered riders, regardless of class. See Annex at the bottom.  
• Standings are updated after each round and published on the official HEWC results page. 
• All nine rounds are eligible to score, each rider best six rounds to count. 
• The rider with the highest cumulative points after the final round will be crowned Senior World Cup Champion at the 2026 Awards Ceremony. 

Why it Matters

The Senior World Cup joins the Women’s World Cup and Youth World Cup categories as part of HEWC’s growing commitment to grow the sport. 

Not only does it elevate the presence of senior riders, but it encourages greater participation and community across the paddock, showing that elite off-road racing doesn’t come with an expiry date. A great example we have is where Anita Hauksdottir has convinced her father to enter the Senior Championship and share a year travelling to races around the world together.  

Annex

The Senior World Cup classification will operate as a single, unified ranking across all rider classes (Gold, Silver, Bronze). This means: 

• All eligible riders aged 40+ will be classified together, regardless of which race class they enter. 
• Course difficulty takes priority: A rider who finishes a more difficult class (e.g. Gold) will be ranked above those who finish easier classes (e.g. Silver or Bronze), regardless of finish time. 
• Within each class, riders are ranked based on their official results as approved by the FIM Jury. 
• Only finishers are eligible for points. A DNF in a higher class does not rank above a finisher in a lower class, unless checkpoint-based classification is issued and approved. 
• If checkpoint-based rankings are used, as sometimes happens in Hard Enduro, seniors will be classified accordingly. 

Just like the Women’s World Cup, this structure rewards both commitment and performance, while still recognising the increasing number of senior riders participating across different ability levels.