The FIA has confirmed an eight round calendar for the World Endurance Championship in 2024. Qatar and Imola make their debuts on the WEC schedule, while Interlagos returns for the first time in a decade. Here are all the dates for your diary!
The eight race calendar for the 2024 World Endurance Championship has been revealed by the FIA. The season opens with two new races at Lusail International Circuit and the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari (Imola). The series then heads to Belgium for the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, which retains its usual early May slot, before the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans takes place on June 15-16.
Both Interlagos, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Circuit of The Americas, in Austin, Texas, return to the calendar. The end of the 2024 season follows the same route as the end of the 2023 season, with the 6 Hours of Fuji hosting the penultimate round in September, before the 8 Hours of Bahrain closes out the calendar in November.
Qatar takes the season-opening slot
The 1000 Miles of Sebring will not return to the World Endurance Championship calendar in 2024. In recent years, the American circuit has hosted both the first round of the season and the pre-season test. In 2024, both the Prologue and the first race of the season move to Lusail International Circuit, near Doha, Qatar.
The Lusail circuit will host the inaugural Qatar 1812km, named in honour of the country’s National Day (December 18). The race is expected to run for under 10 hours. The inclusion of Qatar on the WEC calendar means that from 2024, Lusail International Circuit will host MotoGP, Formula 1 and WEC.
Imola joins the WEC calendar
The 6 Hours of Monza – held as a round of the WEC calendar for the last three seasons – will not return in 2024. Instead, the championship’s Italian round moves to Imola for the inaugural 6 Hours of Imola.
To accommodate an additional non-European round, the Italian round of the season moves from July to April in 2024. Monza will be undergoing upgrade works in April, which is the reason why Imola has been selected to join the schedule in its place.
Interlagos and COTA return
Two tracks make their return to the World Endurance Championship in 2024. The 6 Hours of São Paulo returns after a 10-year absence, with Brazil appearing on the WEC schedule for the first time since 2014. Meanwhile, the Lone Star Le Mans – at Circuit of The Americas – is also back on the calendar.
WEC last raced at COTA in February 2020, when the Lone Star Le Mans was the last race held before the global coronavirus pandemic prevented the series from racing for six months.
The 2024 World Endurance Championship calendar
| Round | Race | Circuit | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prologue | Official Prologue | Lusail International Circuit | February 24-25 |
| 1 | Qatar 1812km | Lusail International Circuit | March 2 |
| 2 | 6 Hours of Imola | Imola | April 21 |
| 3 | 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps | Spa Francorchamps | May 11 |
| 4 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Circuit de la Sarthe | June 15-16 |
| 5 | 6 Hours of Sao Paulo | Interlagos | July 14 |
| 6 | Lone Star Le Mans | Circuit of The Americas | September 1 |
| 7 | 6 Hours of Fuji | Fuji Speedway | September 15 |
| 8 | 8 Hours of Bahrain | Bahrain International Circuit | November 2 |
Will you be attending a round of the World Endurance Championship in 2024? Leave a comment below!
Header image: United Autosports, Flickr, CC BY SA 2.0
Yes,LeMans&COTA