The FIA World Endurance Championship race in Qatar, originally planned as the season opener, has been postponed. The 1812-kilometer race on the Lusail International Circuit, which was due to take place from 26 to 28 March, will now be held at a later date during the 2026 season.
The reason for the postponement is the current geopolitical situation in the Middle East. Following discussions between the WEC management, the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) and other organizations involved, it was decided to suspend the race for the time being. The safety of teams, drivers, staff and fans is the top priority.
A new date for the race in Qatar is currently being worked out together with the Lusail International Circuit. The plan is to hold the race in the second half of this year’s WEC season. A specific date is to be announced in the coming days.
The change of date also means that the start of the World Endurance Championship has been postponed: the season will now begin with the 6 Hours of Imola, which will take place from April 17 to 19 at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem emphasized that the safety of the entire motorsport community is the top priority. At the same time, he announced that he would work together with all those involved to make up for the Qatar race later in the year.
Those responsible for the Lusail International Circuit and the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation also signaled their support for the decision. They thanked fans, teams and partners for their understanding and are looking forward to welcoming the WEC back to Qatar at a later date.
The Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), co-organizer of the WEC, also emphasized that sporting interests must take a back seat in the current situation. At the same time, talks are already underway regarding a suitable alternative date within the 2026 season.
Further details on the new date of the Qatar race will follow as soon as the plans have been finalized.