Sebring, Monza and Algarve have lost their places on the World Endurance Championship calendar as the series expands to eight races for 2024.
The Sebring season-opener has been replaced by a new race at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar. The race will run to a distance of 1,812 kilometres in honour of the country’s National Day. It is expected to last almost 10 hours, making it one of the longest events on the schedule after the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Italy’s round of the championship will move from Monza to Imola, and from July to April, becoming the second race of the season. It will be followed by two regular fixtures, the Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps and the centrepiece 24-hour race at the Circuit de la Sarthe.
One month after Le Mans the teams will head to Brazil for the series’ first race at Interlagos in Sao Paulo since 2014. America’s round of the world championship will take place in September instead of March, and will be held at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas. The length of the race has not yet been decided.
Following the usual trip to Japan for the Six Hours of Fuji later in September, Bahrain will reprise its role as the location of the season finale. It has held the spot almost continuously since 2015, and will ensure next year’s WEC calendar is bookended by rounds in the Middle East.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said he was encouraged by growth of the series, which was revived by his predecessor Jean Todt in 2012.
“For 2024, the calendar expands both in the number of races, and more importantly, geographical diversity, bringing WEC to more people. Looking at the bigger picture, the evolution of the calendar coincides with the rise of FIA WEC’s profile, and in particular its premier Hypercar class. This is testament to the reform of the series’ regulatory foundations carried out jointly by the FIA and the ACO, which has attracted new manufacturers.”
The President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest Pierre Fillon said the series has been “rejuvenated” and next year’s season “promises to be greater than ever before.”
“A record number of entries in the Hypercar class and a calendar of eight races on as many magnificent circuits make for an exciting prospect. Drivers will be getting to grips with four new tracks. That’s quite a challenge.
“It gives me great pleasure to see that the calendar reflects the rejuvenation of our discipline and I am grateful to all the circuits that will be hosting races in the eagerly awaited season to come.”
2024 World Endurance Championship calendar
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