FIA World Endurance Championship

Visit Qatar joins naming rights for Barcelona WEC race

The partnership gives the event the name 6 Hours of Barcelona after the Qatar 1812km was cancelled.

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FIA WEC announced on 14 October 2026 that Visit Qatar would share naming rights for the championship’s inaugural Spanish contest, the 6 Hours of Barcelona.

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya stepped in after the Qatar 1812km, scheduled to open the campaign in March, was cancelled amid the prevailing geopolitical situation in the Middle East. FIA WEC said the Barcelona race would be the penultimate round in the Hypercar and LMGT3 title fights.

Barcelona replaces the Qatar season opener

The Qatar 1812km had been a fixture on the FIA WEC schedule since 2024. Its cancellation led to the move to Barcelona, which previously hosted the championship’s pre-season Prologue group test in 2019.

FIA WEC described Visit Qatar as the presenting partner of the 6 Hours of Barcelona. The announcement also noted the series’ continuing partnership with the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation and Lusail International Circuit.

FIA WEC plans a return to Qatar in 2027

The championship said it was scheduled to return to Lusail International Circuit for the opening round of its 2027 season, on 25–27 March.

FIA WEC CEO Frédéric Lequien said the series looked forward to racing in the region again and anticipated an intriguing Barcelona event. Visit Qatar CEO Abdulaziz Ali Al-Mawlawi also welcomed the partnership and the planned return of the FIA WEC community to Qatar in 2027.

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The event announcement was published by FIA WEC on 14 October 2026.

Byline

Leonida Black

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