The official name of the series frequently changed throughout the years but was generally known as the World Sportscar Championship from its inception in 1953.

Among others, the following races also counted towards the championships in certain years: In the early years, now legendary races such as the Mille Miglia, Carrera Panamericana and Targa Florio were part of the calendar, alongside the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Tourist Trophy and Nurburgring 1000 km.

Notably absent from the overall results were the Jaguar works team, who did not enter any events other than Le Mans, despite the potential of the C- and D-Types.

In 1962, the calendar was expanded to include smaller races, while the FIA shifted the focus to production based GT cars.

In 1982, the FIA attempted to counter a worrying climb in engine output of the Group 5 Special Production Cars by introducing Group C, a new category for closed sports-prototypes (purpose built racing cars) that limited fuel consumption (the theory being that by limiting fuel consumption, engine regulations could be more relaxed).

As costs increased, a C2 class (originally named C Junior) was created for privateer teams and small manufacturers, with greater limits to fuel consumption.

Although the Group C formula was a success, with regular crowds of 50,000 to 70,000 at WSC events (a modern Grand Prix in Europe will have similar crowds), and upwards of 350,000 at the 24 hours of Le Mans,[citation needed] the FIA introduced new rules for 1991 at the behest of FIA vice president Bernie Ecclestone;[citation needed] 750 kg machines with contemporary normally aspirated engines, which were purpose-built 3500cc racing units.

The new generation of WSC racing engines, with the stated intent of cost reduction and improved competition, quickly proved highly suspect.

Costs rose massively as works teams developed cars capable of qualifying around halfway up a Formula 1 grid, despite weighing some 200 kg more.

The more exotic engines were unaffordable for teams like Spice and ADA, thus after the manufacturers left the top class of sportscar racing, the series essentially collapsed.

In 1994, the World Sportscar title would return, this time in the hands of the International Motor Sports Association in North America for use in the IMSA GT series.

Prototypes were mainly absent from European tracks (Le Mans being the sole notable exception) until 1997, which saw the creation of the International Sports Racing Series which evolved into the short-lived FIA Sportscar Championship in 2001 until 2003.

The series continued to utilise the ACO's two primary classes, Le Mans Prototypes and GT Endurance (GTE).

In 1962-1963 seasons titles were also awarded in three engine capacity subdivisions (or series) within each division of GT cars category.

[8] Key: Winning manufacturer = The company that owned the intellectual rights to the chassis and the engine of the car that a team entered for a race.