The FIA World Endurance Championship race in Qatar, originally scheduled as the season opener, has been postponed. The 1812-kilometer race at the Lusail International Circuit, which was supposed to take place from March 26-28, 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. After discussions between WEC management, the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation (QMMF), and other involved organizations, it was decided to suspend the race for the time being. The safety of teams, drivers, staff, and fans is of the utmost priority.
A new date for the Qatar race is currently being worked out together with the Lusail International Circuit. The plan is to reschedule the event in the second half of this year's WEC season. A specific date is to be announced in the coming days.
Due to the schedule change, the start of the World Endurance Championship will also be postponed: the season will now begin with the 6 Hours of Imola, which from the April 17-19 take place 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 with all stakeholders to reschedule the Qatar race for later in the year.
The officials at 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 look 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 backseat in the current situation. At the same time, discussions are already underway about a suitable replacement date within the 2026 season.
Further details on the new date for the Qatar Grand Prix will follow once the planning is complete.