The FIA World Endurance Championship will stage it’s opening round from 2024 through to 2029 in the Gulf state of Qatar.

At a ceremony in Qatar yesterday, the contract was signed that will see the FIA WEC start its season for a six-year run in what will be, by 2024, a fully rebuilt facility at the Losail International Circuit.

In 2024 the season is set to continue with a race at Sebring International Raceway, with a likely extension of the current contract to stage the popular “Super Sebring” doubleheader with the FIA WEC racing over 1000 miles on a Friday and the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship’s classic 12 Hours of Sebring on the Saturday.

The Qatari race helps the WEC both to expand its calendar to a planned 8 races by 2024 and likely adds, via race partner Qatar Airways, some valuable air-freight support as the World Championship works to regather momentum in the post-COVID era.