WEC MOVES QATAR ROUND TO OCTOBER FOLLOWING POSTPONEMENT
The 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) calendar has been adjusted after the organizers decided to postpone the 1812 km of Qatar. The race was originally scheduled for March 28, but concerns about the geopolitical situation in the Middle East forced a change.
Instead of cancelling the event, the championship has moved the race to October 24, 2026, at the Lusail International Circuit. The weekend will now take place from October 22 to 24 and will become the second-to-last round of the season, placed between the 6 Hours of Fuji and the final race in Bahrain on November 7.
Because the Qatar race has a 1.5 points multiplier for being a 10-hour event, it could play an important role in deciding the championship.
Decision made for safety reasons
The change was made after discussions between several organizations involved in the championship. Among them were the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation, the Lusail International Circuit, the FIA, and the WEC organizers.
The goal was to keep the race on the calendar while ensuring the safety of drivers, teams, staff and fans. After evaluating the situation, the parties agreed that moving the race later in the season was the best solution.
Season now begins at Imola
With Qatar postponed, the 2026 WEC season will start in Italy at the 6 Hours of Imola, taking place from April 17 to 19 at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari.
Before the race weekend, teams will take part in the traditional Prologue test on April 14, a collective testing session where teams prepare for the new season. These tests are important for checking reliability, gathering technical data and helping officials determine the Balance of Performance between the different cars.
After Imola, the championship will move to Spa-Francorchamps for the 6-hour race on May 9, before heading to the most famous event of the season, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, scheduled for June 13–14.
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