WEC has delayed the season-opening event in Qatar, while Formula 1 races take center stage.
The World Endurance Championship (WEC) has canceled its season-opening race in Qatar on Tuesday due to attacks by the U.S. and Israel on Iran, along with the closure of airports in the region, including Doha.
The Qatar 1812km race was set to take place from March 26-28 at the Lusail International Circuit, located outside Doha, which also hosts MotoGP and Formula One events. The endurance season, highlighted by the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, will now commence with the Six Hours of Imola at the Italian circuit on April 17-19. "Given the paramount importance of the safety and security of competitors, personnel, and fans, the decision has been made to postpone the event," stated the WEC.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, an Emirati and head of the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA), expressed gratitude to local organizers and the WEC for their "measured and collaborative approach that has led to this decision."
"As the inaugural event of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the Qatar 1812km is significant for many fans, drivers, and teams, and we will collaborate closely with all parties to reschedule the race for later in the 2026 season," he further remarked. The WEC round was the first major motorsport event in the region to be canceled since the conflict began over the weekend, resulting in the closure of airspace in the Gulf region and causing travel disruptions.
FORMULA ONE IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are both scheduled to host Formula One races in April, and Ben Sulayem indicated that the FIA is closely monitoring the situation in the region.
Iranian missiles targeted Doha, Dubai, the Bahraini capital Manama, and Saudi Arabia over the weekend.
Bahrain's race is planned as the fourth of 24 on the calendar for April 12, with Jeddah following the weekend after, and had already sold out all grandstand tickets in the week preceding the onset of the conflict.
Rescheduling either or both events will pose challenges, considering the extreme heat anticipated later in the year and the limited flexibility within a packed schedule.
It is more probable that one or the other will be substituted with European alternatives, as media speculation has already indicated that Imola, France's Le Castellet, and Portugal's Portimao may be potential candidates.
Formula One consistently has contingency plans in place, with teams utilizing charter flights or taking routes to Melbourne that bypass the Middle East for this weekend's season-opening race in Australia.
There has been no immediate indication of outreach to other circuits.
"With 40 days remaining until the race, it is premature to evaluate the potential impact that the regional situation may or may not have on the race weekend," stated the authorities of the Bahrain International Circuit in an announcement.
"From an operational standpoint, BIC is continuing its preparations for the race weekend, and our dedicated team and offices at the circuit are working towards that goal."
Sources within Formula One indicated that the sport is still several weeks away from needing to make a decision, emphasizing that the safety and security of all attendees will remain the top priority.
The sport is in close communication with local authorities, as well as the British Foreign Office and the U.S. State Department.
The current advice from the Foreign Office regarding Bahrain is to limit travel to essential trips only.
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