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F1 championship leader and Italian racing sensation Kimi Antonelli started the 2026 World Endurance Championship (WEC) at Imola.
F1 championship leader and Italian racing sensation Kimi Antonelli kicked off the 2026 World Endurance Championship (WEC) at Imola. The first race of the season, the 6 Hours of Imola event, unfolded at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari over the weekend. Reigning champions Ferrari AF Corse, with former F1 star Antonio Giovinazzi on their roster, secured pole position in a tough battle with rivals. The No.8 Toyota squad started second, while the top four qualifiers fought fiercely in a thrilling competition. Ferrari maintained dominance with their No.50 AF Corse team, completing the third spot on the grid.
The 6 Hours of Imola race commenced at 13:00 local time (12:00 UK time) and concluded at 19:00 (18:00 UK time). Notably, F1 leader Antonelli joined the event as a special guest, signaling the start of the 2026 campaign. Antonelli expressed his interest in endurance racing, highlighting his desire to participate in iconic races like Nurburgring 24 Hours and 24 Hours of Le Mans. Looking ahead, the 2026 WEC schedule includes races at Spa-Francorchamps, Le Mans, Sao Paulo, Fuji, Qatar 1812km, and Bahrain.
