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The FIA has confirmed that the World Endurance Championship prologue and season-opener – both in Qatar – have been cancelled due to the ongoing Middle East crisis.
The FIA has announced the cancellation of the World Endurance Championship prologue and season-opener in Qatar due to the ongoing Middle East crisis, following air strikes over the weekend as a response to the US and Israel’s joint attack on Iran, resulting in the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Qatar, among other nations in the region, was impacted by the counter-strikes, prompting the FIA to closely monitor the situation that also affects upcoming Formula 1 events such as the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix in April.
With both the Prologue and the Qatar 1821km races scheduled for March 22-23 and March 28, the FIA had to make the difficult decision to cancel both events in light of the circumstances.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem emphasized the importance of the community’s safety and expressed gratitude for the collaborative approach in making the decision, promising efforts to reschedule the Qatar 1812km race later in the 2026 season.
The FIA will continue to assess the situation across the region and hopes for a peaceful resolution while closely monitoring the potential impact on upcoming Formula 1 races, starting this weekend in Melbourne.
