Conflict in the Middle East postpones the start of the Endurance World Cup in Qatar

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) announced this Tuesday the postponement of the inaugural round of the World Endurance Championship (WEC), the 1,812 km in Qatar, initially scheduled for March 28th on the Lusail international circuit. The decision comes in the wake of the escalation of tension in the Middle East, namely the conflict involving Iran, which has caused instability in the Gulf region.

In a note, the organization clarified that this is not a cancellation, but a postponement to a date yet to be defined, pointing out the possibility of the race being rescheduled for the end of the 2026 season. The traditional prologue — collective pre-season testing session — which would have preceded the race on the same route, was also postponed.

The president of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, justified the measure on safety grounds. “The safety and well-being of our community will always be the main priority,” he said, highlighting that the decision was made together with local entities. The leader also added that the federation’s thoughts “remain with all those affected by these recent events”, expressing hope for a return to stability in the region.

With the postponement of the race in Qatar, The start of the Endurance World Championship now passes to Italy. The 6 Hours of Imola, at the Autódromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, between April 17 and 19, takes on the role of the first stage of the season. This is followed by the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, in Belgium, in May, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in France, in June, which now constitute the third stage of the championship.

Among the full-time drivers in the WEC is Portuguese António Félix da Costa, who competes in the Hypercar category driving an Alpine. Filipe Albuquerque is expected to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, joining the Cadillac team.

Instability in the Middle East is therefore beginning to have a direct impact on the international motorsport calendar, with the FIA ​​favoring a cautious approach in a context of increasing uncertainty.