WEC 2026 season kicks off at Imola with revised schedule

The 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship season will begin this weekend at Italy's Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, stepping in as the opening round after geopolitical tensions forced the postponement of the planned Qatar curtain-raiser. The change brings the global series to a historic European circuit, where reigning champions Ferrari in Hypercar and Manthey-Porsche in LMGT3 will start their title defenses.

Why it matters:

The last-minute calendar shift highlights the complex logistics of global motorsport in an unstable geopolitical climate, testing the championship's adaptability. For teams and fans, it means the highly anticipated debut of new cars and driver lineups will now happen at the iconic, challenging Imola circuit, setting a different tone for the start of the season. It also places immediate pressure on all competitors, as there is no 'flyaway' opener to settle in, with a competitive European round right from the start.

The details:

• Schedule Change: The season-opening 6 Hours of Qatar was postponed due to regional safety and logistical concerns, including affected airspace. Imola, originally the second round, was promoted to host the season opener instead.
• Prologue Testing: Due to the Qatar postponement, the official pre-season test, the "Prologue," will also be held at Imola on Tuesday, April 14th, offering eight hours of crucial track time.
• Event Timetable: The race weekend runs from Friday, April 17th to Sunday, April 19th.
  • Practice: Three free practice sessions are scheduled (FP1 & FP2 on Friday, FP3 on Saturday).
  • Qualifying: A two-part qualifying system for both Hypercar and LMGT3 classes will take place on Saturday afternoon, consisting of an initial qualifying session followed by a Hyperpole shootout for the top contenders.
  • Race: The Six Hours of Imola itself will start at 1:00 PM local time (CET) on Sunday, April 19th.
• Defending Champions: Ferrari arrives as the reigning Hypercar Manufacturers' champion, with the #51 AF Corse crew holding the Teams' title. In the LMGT3 class, the #91 Manthey PureRxcing Porsche squad enters as the defending champion.

What's next:

All eyes will be on Imola to see which teams have mastered the off-season development cycle and adapted best to the sudden change in venue. The race will provide the first true competitive benchmark for the 2026 field. The championship's focus will then turn to rescheduling the Qatar round and navigating the rest of the global calendar, with the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June remaining the season's crown jewel.