Qatar to Host FIA WEC 2026 Opener
Qatar’s Lusail International Circuit set to launch the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship with the Qatar 1812 KM race.
- Publish date: since 18 hour Reading time: 1 min read
Qatar is gearing up to once again host the season-opening round of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) at the iconic Lusail International Circuit.
The announcement confirms that both the Prologue and the Qatar 1812 KM race will take place in March, marking the third consecutive year that Qatar opens the championship’s global calendar.
The Prologue, a mandatory pre-season testing session for teams and drivers, is scheduled for 22–23 March 2026, offering competitors a chance to fine-tune their Hypercar and LMGT3 machines ahead of competition. The official season opener, the Qatar 1812 KM endurance race, will take place on 28 March 2026 at Lusail, a day-into-night contest that can run up to ten hours on the 5.38 km, 16-turn circuit.
Named in honour of Qatar’s National Day, the 1812 KM race returns from its previous editions and remains a highlight of the WEC season, attracting top manufacturers and drivers from around the world. Tickets for the three-day event, spanning practice, qualifying and race action, are already on sale, with access to fan zones and prime viewing areas including the main grandstand and the elevated Lusail Hill vantage point.
Lusail International Circuit, which also hosts Formula 1 and MotoGP events, has cemented its status as a premier venue for world-class motorsport, with its high-speed layout and evening spectacle providing an ideal stage for endurance racing.
The 2026 FIA WEC season comprises eight rounds across five continents, with Lusail once again setting the tone for a year of strategic racing and technological competition in both the Hypercar and LMGT3 categories.