The World Endurance Championship Qatar race has been rescheduled to October 22-24, becoming the new penultimate race of the 2026 season.
The WEC postponed its season opener in Qatar due to security concerns raised by the conflict in the Middle East, with Iran firing drones and missiles at its neighbors in response to the Gulf state, which hosts US military bases. The conflict escalated into a crisis when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran’s missile infrastructure, military bases and leaders, leading to the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
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The 1,812-kilometre race, with a maximum duration of 10 hours, was originally scheduled to take place from March 26 to 28, with pre-season testing being moved forward a week, but the decision was made to postpone the test and race earlier this month due to safety concerns and to allow for logistical preparation time.
Organizers have now announced that Qatar will take place from 22 to 24 October and will be the penultimate round of the season before the WEC heads to Bahrain for the finals on 5 to 7 November. The rest of the 2026 calendar remains unchanged.
A WEC statement said: “The safety of competitors, personnel and fans remains paramount to the QMMF, LIC, FIA and FIA WEC organizations and all parties will continue to monitor developments in the region.”
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The 2026 WEC season will kick off with the Imola 6 Hours from April 17 to 19, with the circuit also hosting a one-day test on April 14 before the race weekend.
Other racing events in the Middle East also look set to face postponements or cancellations, with Formula 1 evaluating options for the Bahrain Grand Prix (April 10-12) and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (April 17-19).
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The FIA, F1 and race organizers are monitoring the conflict closely, but due to logistical demands there is currently a countdown to a final decision.
MotoGP’s Qatar Grand Prix from April 10 to 12 faces a similar prospect, with the race likely to be postponed.
Also read:
Imola to host 2026 WEC Prologue test in April
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