World Endurance Championship to shift 2026 season finale to Europe amid Middle East tensions

The FIA and the organisers of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) have cancelled the 2026 Qatar race and the planned Bahrain finale because of ongoing US‑Israel‑Iran tensions. Teams have been offered an alternative schedule that retains the 6 Hours of Austin (6 Sept) and the 6 Hours of Fuji (27 Sept) while replacing the Middle‑East rounds with a 6 Hours of Barcelona on 18 Oct and a 6 Hours of Monza on 7 Nov.

If confirmed, the new European finale would clash with the GT World Challenge Europe’s last round at Portimão, prompting talks between the WEC and the SRO Motorsports Group to avoid a scheduling conflict. The revised calendar still requires approval from the FIA World Motor Sport Council at its meeting on 23 July, just before the Hungarian Grand Prix.