War in the Middle East, no racing in Qatar
The ongoing tensions in the Middle East, triggered by the attack by the United States and Israel on Iran, have had their first official repercussions on motorsport as well. A few minutes ago, the WEC announced that the inaugural round of the 2026 World Championship, the Qatar 1812 km, will be postponed: the championship will start in Imola on the weekend of April 19.
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The statement
This is the statement: “The Qatar 1812 km, originally scheduled as the opening round of the 2026 World Championship, has been officially postponed to the end of the year. We have maintained a constant dialogue in light of the current evolving geopolitical situation in the Middle East. With the safety and security of competitors, staff, and fans as the top priority, the decision has been made to postpone the event that was scheduled to take place on March 26-28“.
Statement from the FIA WEC on the Qatar 1812km.#WEC pic.twitter.com/de89I62idZ
— FIA World Endurance Championship (@FIAWEC) March 3, 2026
“Following further discussions with the Lusail circuit, a new date for the Qatar 1812 km will be established in the second half of the season, which will be communicated in due course. The first round of the season will therefore be the 6 Hours of Imola on April 17-19“.
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Just yesterday we reported that it would be very difficult for motorsport to organize races in Qatar, for obvious safety and logistical reasons. MotoGP and Formula 1 will have the same problem (and will likely reach the same solution) for all races scheduled in the Middle East in the near future: according to the calendar, the two-wheelers would visit Lusail on the weekend of April 12; in the same weekend, the Circus would go to Bahrain, while the following week it would be in Saudi Arabia. Conditionals are naturally necessary, as the entire area is at risk due to the attack on Iran and the latter’s reprisals against other states in the region.
