2024 FIA World Endurance Championship calendar expands to eight rounds

he 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship calendar has been unveiled, following the approval of FIA World Motor Sport Council members via e-vote. It sees the global endurance series visit eight countries across four continents for its 12thseason which will include a further influx of manufacturers to the headline Hypercar category.

Doha, Qatar, will host the WEC Prologue and the season-opener for the very first time in early March 2024 at Lusail International Circuit. A race lasting under 10 hours, will be called the Qatar 1812km, named after the country’s National Day and a pillar of celebration each year.

The championship will then move to another new race venue, as Autodromo 

Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari (Imola) replaces Autodromo Nazionale Monza as the Italian round of the WEC whose date moves forward from July to April.

Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, which recently signed a five-year contract extension with the series promoter, Le Mans Endurance Management, for both WEC and European Le Mans Series, will form the third round of the championship before the series returns to France for its biggest race of the year: the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans (15-16 June).

Following an agreement with São Paulo’s City Hall, the WEC will return to Brazil for the first time since 2014 for the 6 Hours of São Paulo at the Interlagos Circuit in mid-July.

The championship then travels to Austin, Texas, for round six and a return to the Circuit of the Americas for the Lone Star Le Mans, last held in 2020.

Fuji International Speedway will stage the penultimate round of the calendar with its popular race in Japan in mid-September. Bahrain will once again host the season finale at the magnificent Bahrain International Circuit at the start of November when the 2024 World Champions will be crowned at a glittering awards ceremony. Next year’s races will vary in length between six and 24 hours.