WEC’s calendar swap: Why swapping Qatar and Bahrain for Barcelona and Monza resets the championship fight
- Ghazlan Atqiya Firmansyah
- 6 hours ago
- 7 min read
On 28 July, after much consideration, the FIA and the ACO have announced that Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and Autodromo Nazionale Monza will replace the original season-opening Qatar 1812 km and the 8 Hours of Bahrain. While the calendar retains eight rounds, the absence of the 8–10 hours points multiplier is bound to be a factor in both the Hypercar and LMGT3 championships.
A necessary move under pressure
In March, Qatar organisers previously announced that they were postponing the Qatar 1812 km round to October due to the conflict in the Middle East. As the second race on the calendar, Imola instead served as the opener to the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).
However, prolonged conflict in the region meant that hosting both the Qatar and Bahrain rounds would not be feasible. Shortly before the 28 July announcement, the FIA confirmed that Formula One's Bahrain Grand Prix, which was due to be held earlier this year, will instead take place at Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia.
Nonetheless, the show must go on, one way or another. That is the reason why the FIA and the ACO decided to move the Gulf closers back to Europe, where the majority of the teams are based.
Frédéric Lequien, the CEO of FIA WEC said: “We have been closely monitoring developments in the Middle East over recent months.
"A few weeks ago, we were optimistic about being able to race in Qatar and Bahrain, but unfortunately, the present situation obliges us to switch to an alternative plan."
Pierre Fillon, President of ACO, admitted to being "deeply disappointed" at not being able to race in Qatar and Bahrain, but credited Barcelona and Monza with their responsiveness in hosting the cancelled rounds at such short notice.
While the championship will not make a return to the Middle East, the organisers are committed to having both tracks return next year, as planned.
Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Chief Executive of Bahrain International Circuit, said: “Over recent weeks, we have been in close coordination with our colleagues at FIA WEC and other stakeholders.
"Whilst we are naturally disappointed not to be hosting the pinnacle of world endurance racing in 2026, we support the decision, which is in the best interests of all involved.
"On behalf of all of us at BIC, I thank the entire FIA WEC community for their support, and we look forward to welcoming the return of the series next year, together with fans from all around the world."
In an exclusive written statement to DIVEBOMB, Jérôme Policand, ASP Team Principal, responded to missing out on the Middle East rounds: "It is obviously a shame not to be racing in the Middle East, where we always really enjoy competing.
"This calendar change will also require significant logistical adjustments, with very tight deadlines. In particular, we will need to ensure that all the freight coming from COTA reaches Barcelona in time, as the equipment used at Fuji will not be back soon enough."
How WEC's calendar swap means a reset for the championship fights
Running for more than six hours, both Qatar and Bahrain rounds awarded a maximum of 38 points for the race winner. A point is awarded to pole-sitters, which meant 39 points were possible. But the relocation to Barcelona and Monza meant the maximum points would be reduced to 26 points, following suit with other rounds that hold a six-hour race.
Mathematically, the total maximum points available from the final two rounds drops from 78 to 52 points. This multiplier has surprised the grid, as shown by Auto Sport Promotion (ASP) Lexus' No.87 entry finishing third in the LMGT3 championships after previously entering the Bahrain finale in sixth.
With the multiplier gone, the 26-point cap protects the current championship leaders in both categories. Toyota currently leads BMW in the Hypercar Manufacturers' Championship by five points with 132 points, yet they are tied with their German rivals in the Drivers' Championship.
Away from the duo is Ferrari in third with 88 points, and Cadillac in fourth with 28 points further behind. Closing the gap to the contenders would be an uphill task as all the post-summer break rounds last for six hours. But stranger things can happen in motorsport.
Boosted by their victory in Le Mans, TF Sport's No.33 Corvette currently leads the LMGT3 Teams' Trophy, with driver Jonny Edgar leading the Drivers' Trophy standings. Standing tall with 76 points, the British-based team has a massive 27-point lead over their nearest rival, the No.92 Manthey Racing.
WEC's calendar swap to Barcelona and Monza severely punishes teams who were plagued by early-season DNFs or other setbacks. Expect the chasers to be more aggressive as they now have to work harder than ever to recover lost points.
Technical reset and different challenges
Lusail International Circuit and Bahrain International Circuit are flat desert tracks that test the teams against desert elements and tyre wear. Both tracks punish the drivers differently, however: Qatar's fast-flowing corners yield high G-force that strains the drivers' necks, while Bahrain is demanding on the tyres and traction.
Aston Martin Heart of Racing (THOR)'s driver, Roman De Angelis, exclusively revealed to DIVEBOMB last year, said: "[There are] lots of long-duration corners where you're like, just by the end of the race, you're holding on with your neck. So physically, that was the biggest thing."
Swapping the illuminated circuits for the European classics introduces a different set of challenges. While it is a flowing track, Barcelona will overload the front-left tyres due to its abrasive tarmac and a high count of right-hand turns. Traffic management would be a headache for the Hypercars due to the tight final sector. The cooler October temperature means longer time needed to get the tyres to temperature.
During the 4 Hours of Barcelona press conference earlier this year, Cadillac driver Louis Delétraz, who competes with the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) LMP2 Pro/Am, spoke about the track's nature:
"I think what's very special here is the tyre deg.
"Obviously, it's not a normal track where you can push every lap. You have deltas from five to six seconds from quali to the race. It's an approach we've always had by having a car that's very safe on the rear axle.
"Let's say that we know over a double stint we will be fast; we don't focus on quali pace, and it's shown to be pretty good around here. It's a tough race; you don't win it at the beginning; you win it over the long run."
Over at the "Temple of Speed", teams will run their cars with the lowest possible downforce for maximum speed. Running with the least amount of downforce makes the car nervous under braking and prone to snaps. Violent deceleration at Turn 1 bottleneck puts immense stress on the brakes.
Policand added on the unique late fall weather conditions in Southern Europe: "The main difference will undoubtedly be the weather conditions.
"Whereas we would have raced in temperatures of between 25 and 30°C in the Middle East, we may well need wet-weather tyres in Europe and will have to contend with much cooler track conditions. It will be a very different challenge, and one to which the team will have to adapt quickly."
Pragmatism that rewrites history
The decision to relocate to Barcelona and Monza is a result of calculated cost-benefit analysis. The stakeholders have carefully weighed the feasibility of racing the Hypercars and LMGT3 in Barcelona and a return to Monza.
Barcelona has been a consistent fixture for the ELMS' 4 Hours of Barcelona since 2019, with only the 2020 round missing due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The track also hosts the supporting Le Mans Cup and the Porsche Carrera Cup France.
Ignasi Armengol, the General Manager of Fira Circuit, is proud to host a WEC race: "The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is proud to host a round of the FIA World Endurance Championship.
"In light of the changes to the championship’s planned calendar, and with the hope that the current situation will be resolved as soon as possible, this decision reflects the confidence placed in our circuit’s proven experience, organisational excellence and world-class facilities.
"The arrival of the FIA World Endurance Championship further strengthens the circuit’s position as one of the world’s leading motorsport venues, placing it at the heart of one of the fastest-growing and most prestigious championships in international motorsport.
"This is more than simply adding another event to our calendar; it is an opportunity to enhance international visibility, generate economic impact and create new opportunities for Barcelona, Catalonia and the wider region.
"By hosting Formula 1, MotoGP and the FIA World Endurance Championship, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya joins a select group of venues worldwide capable of staging the three most prestigious championships in international motorsport."
Similarly, Monza has hosted a variety of endurance racing in the past, including the previous iteration of the World Endurance Championship decades ago. In modern day, it has hosted the 1000 km of Monza as part of the Le Mans Series, to the recent 6 Hours of Monza from 2021 to 2023.
Geronimo La Russa, the President of Automobile Club d’Italia (ACI), said: "The announcement that the Autodromo Nazionale Monza will host the season finale of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship represents another prestigious recognition for Italian motorsport and the ACI, which, as the national sporting authority, has once again demonstrated promptness, expertise and organisational capability this season.
"Following the championship opener at Imola, this new appointment further confirms Italy’s leading role on the international motorsport stage.
"Now Monza, ‘The Temple of Speed’, is preparing to welcome the grand finale of the FIA World Endurance Championship – an event that further enhances a circuit unique in its history, tradition and technical profile, capable of bringing out the best in drivers and teams while delivering extraordinary emotions to fans.
"This outcome strengthens Italy’s position on the international motorsport scene and rewards the professionalism and passion of everyone at the ACI, whose commitment makes it possible to stage major racing events in our country."
The inclusion of Barcelona and Monza would undoubtedly be welcomed by the locals. It is not often that the Spanish Hypercar drivers: Miguel Molina (Ferrari), Daniel Juncadella (Genesis) and Alex Riberas (Aston Martin) have a race they can finally call home.
It is also expected that the Monza finale will attract significant attendance. Home to Ferrari's passionate Tifosi fanbase, you could expect the grandstands to be full of passionate supporters cheering for Ferrari's Hypercar and LMGT3 success.
While Barcelona and Monza enter the season as a last-minute replacement due to the ongoing Middle East geopolitical tension, those who walk away with the crown will not only be the fastest team around, but also those who adapted well to the unusual circumstances.
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