Qatar to host World Endurance C'ship prologue and season-opener following Le Mans 2026 calendar reveal
Tribune News Network
Doha
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) announced the 2026 World Endurance Championship (WEC) calendar in Le Mans on 13 June, confirming Qatar's continued role in launching the new season with both the Prologue testing sessions and the opening championship round March 22-28 , making it one of the 8 circuits around to world to host WEC in 2026.
For a third time, Lusail International Circuit (LIC) will welcome the premier endurance racing series with the Prologue sessions scheduled from March 22-23,allowing teams and drivers to fine-tune their Hypercars and LMGT3 machines ahead of the competitive season.
The official championship action will commence shortly afterwards with the Qatar 1812 KM race being held from March 26-28. Named in honour of Qatar's National Day, this endurance contest will once again test competitors as they race from daylight into darkness, a maximum of ten hours across the 5.38km, 16-turn circuit.
The circuit's characteristics – featuring a flat, high-speed layout with minimal elevation changes and maximum grip – continue to provide an ideal proving ground for the sport's most advanced prototypes and production-based GT cars. The 16 turns combined with the kilometre-long main straight demand peak performance from both machinery and drivers.
Following success in 2024 and 2025, the Qatar rounds have established themselves as unmissable fixtures on the WEC calendar, attracting the world's leading automotive manufacturers including Porsche, Ferrari, Toyota, Cadillac, Aston Martin, Peugeot, Alpine, and BMW in the premier Hypercar category.
The LMGT3 class will feature equally fierce competition among marques such as Corvette, Lexus, Ferrari, BMW, and Mercedes-AMG. Stay tuned for further ticketing information.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Qatar Tribune
Al Mohannadi leads talks in Tashkent to strengthen ATTF's partnership with Uzbekistan
Tribune News Network Tashkent Khalil bin Ahmed Al Mohannadi, President of the Qatar, Arab, and Asian Table Tennis Federations, led a high-level delegation from the Asian Federation on an official visit to the Uzbek capital, Tashkent. During the visit, he met with a number of senior government and sports officials, including Mr. Kudbiev Sherzod Davletovich, Chairman of the Tax Committee and President of the Uzbek Table Tennis Federation. The visit aims to strengthen regional sports cooperation and explore prospects for developing the game in Central Asia. The meeting, held at the headquarters of the Uzbek Tax Committee, marked an important milestone in the partnership between the Asian Federation and Uzbekistan. Future plans for the development of table tennis were reviewed, particularly in light of the remarkable organizational and logistical success of the 29th Asian Youth Championship currently being held in Tashkent, with the participation of 361 players from 22 countries, amid widespread acclaim from international delegations and observers. Al Mohannadi expressed his deep appreciation for Uzbekistan's efforts in supporting table tennis, stressing that the excellent organization of the current tournament reflects the country's genuine commitment to advancing this sport. He also praised the quality of the facilities and the smooth organization of the 'Homo' complex, which hosted world-class competitions. During the meeting, Al Mohannadi emphasized that the Asian Federation is confident in Uzbekistan's ability to host the 2026 Asian Championships at an exceptional level. He noted that the country's successive successes in organizing tournaments, along with its advanced infrastructure, make it an ideal candidate to host one of the most important upcoming continental events. The meeting also addressed the importance of Central Asia as a strategic region on the global table tennis map. Long-term projects were discussed, including the establishment of regional training centers, the expansion of youth programs, and the enhancement of expertise exchange with member states. They also included supporting training and technical education initiatives, which would contribute to building a new generation of players and coaches in the region. Khalil Al Mohannadi emphasized that the partnership with Uzbekistan goes beyond hosting tournaments, extending to deeper levels of technical, technological, and administrative cooperation. He said the AFC's desire is to make Uzbekistan a pivotal partner in implementing continental development projects, and that this partnership represents a true model of complementary roles between sports institutions and national governments. The meeting participants also praised the growing role of sports tourism in supporting the local economy. The current Asian Youth Championship demonstrated Uzbekistan's great potential to attract international visitors and highlight the country's cultural and civilizational heritage. Mr. Kudbiev noted this, explaining that the Uzbek government views sports as a fundamental pillar of sustainable development plans. The meeting concluded with an affirmation of mutual optimism about the future of table tennis in Uzbekistan and Central Asia, and a commitment from both sides to continue working together to expand the game's horizon.
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Qatar Tribune
Norris takes pole position for Austrian GP with mighty lap
Agencies Spielberg (Austria) Lando Norris of McLaren had a mighty lap in qualifying to take pole position for the Formula One Austrian Grand Prix on Saturday. The British driver was already in a good position after his first flying lap in Q3, but he improved to clock 1 minute 3.971 seconds - over half a second ahead of second-placed Charles Leclerc of Ferrari. Championship leader Oscar Pistri completed the top three in the other McLaren. Norris is aiming to bounce back from a catastrophic Canadian GP two weeks ago. He collided with Piastri with three laps left to the end of the race, with Norris braking too late and running into the back of his team-mate. While Piastri finished the race in fourth, Norris couldn't cross the finish line and missed some crucial points. He currently sits 22 points behind Piastri in the standings. Four-time defending champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull was only seventh after complaining of lack of grip throughout the session. The red flag came out with some six minutes left in Q2 due to a small grass fire near the track. The same incident also caused interruptions at the Japanese GP in April. 'It was a good lap, that's for sure,' said Norris. 'I guess that just little bit by little bit, I was able to get more time. Q1 was good, but I knew there were a few places I could get more time and I did what I planned to do.' Verstappen had taken pole position at the Red Bull-owned circuit in the Styrian Alps for the last five F1 races before Norris succeeded and seized his first pole in Austria, his third of the season and 12th of his career. Team-mate Piastri was disappointed and frustrated. 'I had (Pierre) Gasly spin at the first corner so I didn't even open my second lap. Lando's been very quick all weekend so it would have been a tough challenge, but we had the pace to be on the front row. 'We can still have a good race from there and we are not here to come home third.' Verstappen's last lap was stymied by a yellow flag waved when Gasly spun in his Alpine, leaving him, like Piastri, unable to clock a flying lap time. He finished seventh. Leclerc said: 'I'm very pleased. It's been a long time since we started on the front row and it's been a difficult season overall, but the team has kept pushing. 'We brought some new parts this weekend which for sure made a difference. We know we have a better car in the race than in qualifying so I hope we can put more pressure on the McLarens.' Leclerc's Ferrari team-mate and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was an encouraging fourth ahead of Mercedes' George Russell, Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls, four-time champion Verstappen of Red Bull and Gabriel Bortoleto of Sauber. Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli was ninth in the second Mercedes and Gasly 10th.
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Qatar Tribune
France orders Tesla to end ‘deceptive practices'
Tribune News Network Doha French anti-fraud authorities said on Tuesday they have ordered US electric car giant Tesla's local subsidiary to stop 'deceptive commercial practices' after an investigation found several violations harmful to consumers and contrary to law. The fraud prevention and consumer protection agency (DGCCRF) said its agents investigated Tesla's French subsidiary between 2023 and 2024 after reports were filed on a consumer complaint platform. The probe revealed 'deceptive commercial practices regarding the fully autonomous driving capabilities of Tesla vehicles, the availability of certain options and vehicle trade-in offers', it said. The agency also cited delays in refunding cancelled orders, a lack of information on the location of deliveries and incomplete sales contracts, among other violations. Tesla was given four months to comply with regulations. It faces a daily fine of 50,000 euros ($58,000) if it fails to stop deceptive commercial practices over the fully autonomous driving option of certain Tesla models. Tesla did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment. Tesla sales have tanked in Europe in recent months owing to an ageing fleet of cars, rising competition and consumer distaste for Elon Musk's role in US President Donald Trump's administration. Tesla has completed its first fully autonomous car delivery, with a Model Y driving itself from the company's Texas factory to a customer's home. Tesla's, opens new tab new car sales in Europe fell 27.9% in May from a year earlier even as fully-electric vehicle sales in the region jumped 27.2%, with the U.S. EV maker's revised Model Y yet to show signs of reviving the brand's fortunes. Overall car sales in Europe rose 1.9%, with the strongest growth coming from plug-in hybrids and cars powered by alternative fuels, data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) showed. Tesla's European sales have now fallen for five straight months as customers switch to cheaper Chinese EVs and, in some cases, protest against Tesla CEO Elon Musk's politics.
