Following the postponement of the Qatar 1812km from its unique date in March to later within the 12 months, the choice has now been taken – because of the continued uncertainty within the area – to interchange the ultimate two rounds with races on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and Autodromo Nazionale Monza.
The inaugural 6 Hours of Barcelona will happen over the weekend of 16-18 October, and can mark the primary time FIA WEC has visited the monitor, which has in recent times efficiently hosted the European Le Mans Sequence and Michelin Le Mans Cup.
Monza, in the meantime, has a protracted affiliation with the top of worldwide endurance racing stretching again greater than 60 years, having welcomed the FIA World Sportscar Championship on a number of events – yielding victories for heroes of the game resembling John Surtees, Mario Andretti and Jacky Ickx.
From 2021 to 2023, FIA WEC travelled to ‘The Temple of Pace’ for 3 consecutive seasons, leading to triumphs for Toyota and Alpine. The 2026 version of the 6 Hours of Monza can be held on 6-8 November. The calendar change is topic to the approval of the FIA World Motor Sport Council.
This announcement comes alongside additional updates to the Worldwide Sporting Calendar, together with for the FIA Method One World Championship, and the FIA Karting World Championship occasion that was as a result of happen in Bahrain concurrently with the FIA WEC finale.
H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, stated:
“I’m extremely pleased with the collaboration that may allow Barcelona and Monza to host FIA World Endurance Championship rounds later this 12 months. The FIA has labored carefully with our companions in Qatar and Bahrain in current months to discover each choice to protect each occasions this season. However because of the ongoing state of affairs within the area, the protection of our groups, colleagues, and motorsport followers stays our highest precedence. These are by no means straightforward selections, however defending the wellbeing of our motorsport group will at all times come first.
“My due to all of our Member Golf equipment who’ve helped make these updates attainable, the Lusail Worldwide Circuit, the Bahrain Worldwide Circuit and our championship colleagues whose partnership and assist all through this course of displays the easiest of our sport. Our ideas are with all these affected by the state of affairs within the area, and we sit up for returning when circumstances permit.”
Frédéric Lequien, CEO, FIA WEC, stated:
“A matter of days after the present Center East disaster started again on the finish of February, we acted rapidly in suspending the Qatar occasion till later within the 12 months, simply earlier than Bahrain. A couple of weeks in the past, we had been optimistic about with the ability to race at each venues, however sadly, the current state of affairs obliges us to modify to another plan.
“We now have duly resolved to interchange these two end-of-season rounds with Barcelona and Monza. Logistically, it was crucial to take this determination now to permit producers, groups and the FIA WEC organisation to make all vital preparations.
“I want to warmly thank Qatar and Bahrain for his or her understanding in these instances. We now have been in fixed dialogue with each tracks and their nationwide federations, and are pleased with the shut, long-standing relationships we have now constructed within the Center East. They’re vastly essential and well-established occasions in FIA WEC, and can stay so for a few years to come back.”
Pierre Fillon, President, Car Membership de l’Ouest, stated:
“We’re navigating an exceptionally complicated interval within the Center East. Along with Frédéric Lequien, we have now been monitoring developments each day and dealing carefully and transparently with all stakeholders to establish the very best answer.
“The ACO has constructed robust and lasting relationships with governments, motorsport federations, promoters and companions throughout the Center East. I want to specific my honest gratitude to our colleagues in Qatar and Bahrain for his or her outstanding dedication and for the appreciable efforts they’ve revamped current weeks in an try to protect these two occasions.
“We’re deeply disillusioned that we won’t be able to race in Qatar and Bahrain this 12 months. These international locations have develop into essential members of the FIA World Endurance Championship household, and I wish to be very clear – we’re totally dedicated to returning to each venues in 2027 as scheduled. We already sit up for being reunited with our companions and followers there.
“Within the meantime, I might additionally prefer to thank Barcelona and Monza for his or her responsiveness and for welcoming the World Championship at such brief discover. I’ve little question that each circuits will present an impressive stage for endurance racing.”
Abdulrahman bin Abdullatif Al Mannai, President, Qatar Motor & Bike Federation (QMMF) and Lusail Worldwide Circuit (LIC), stated:
“We totally respect the choice taken by the FIA WEC to name off this 12 months’s Qatar 1812km. Our dedication to this partnership stays as robust as ever, and we sit up for working carefully with each the FIA and the WEC to ship an distinctive occasion when the championship returns to Lusail Worldwide Circuit.
“We’re grateful to our followers, companions, groups and the broader motorsport group for his or her continued assist, understanding and confidence. We sit up for welcoming everybody again within the close to future.”
Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, Chief Govt, Bahrain Worldwide Circuit, stated:
“Over current weeks, we have now been in shut coordination with our colleagues at FIA WEC and different stakeholders. While we’re naturally disillusioned to not be internet hosting the top of world endurance racing in 2026, we assist the choice, which is in one of the best pursuits of all concerned.
“On behalf of all of us at BIC, I thank the whole FIA WEC group for his or her assist and we sit up for welcoming the return of the sequence subsequent 12 months, along with followers from all around the globe.”
The modifications to the sequence’ 2026 schedule haven’t any affect upon the nine-round 2027 calendar, which stays as introduced on 12 June.
