COTA, Interlagos Return on 2024 WEC Schedule

Photo: Joao Filipe/WEC

The FIA World Endurance Championship will return to Circuit of The Americas and Interlagos, while Monza has been swapped for Imola on 2024 schedule.

Announced on Friday during the ACO press conference in Le Mans, the 12th season of the world championship will visit eight countries across four continents.

COTA, which last on the calendar in 2020, will take the place of Sebring International Raceway as the U.S. round in a widely expected move, with a Sept. 1 date.

The six-hour Lone Star Le Mans will be preceded by the 6 Hours of São Paulo on July 14, marking the WEC’s return to South America for the first time since 2014.

As previously announced, Qatar will open the season with both the Prologue on Feb. 24-25 and the newly named Qatar 1812km, named after the country’s National Day, on March 2.

The race at the revamped Lusail International Circuit will have a maximum duration of ten hours. It was initially announced as the 6 Hours of Qatar last December.

Imola, meanwhile, will host the second round of the season on April 21, an event that clashes with the expected IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race in Long Beach.

Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari replaces Autodromo Nazionale Monza as the Italian round, with the date moved from July.

Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, which recently signed a five-year contract extension, will hold the third race of the season on May 11, the same weekend as the Nürburgring 24.

The 101st annual 24 Hours of Le Mans will take place on June 15-16, followed by the returns of Interlagos and COTA.

The 6 Hours of Fuji and 8 Hours of Bahrain will close out the season in mid-September and early November, respectively.

“The 2024 FIA WEC calendar is a mix of traditional motorsport venues and key markets that are important for our manufacturers, key stakeholders and partners,” said WEC CEO Frederic Lequien.

“It is always a challenge finding the right balance but with four new venues, two of which are completely new to the WEC, as well as four well-established races, we have created a good mix of old and new.

“Eight races across five different regions will also bring our series to an even greater audience, as well as building momentum throughout the year.

“Today’s announcement is yet again another indication of WEC’s very bright future.”
ACO President Pierre Fillon added: “The 2024 FIA WEC season promises to be greater than ever before. A record number of entries in the Hypercar class and a calendar of eight races on as many magnificent circuits make for an exciting prospect.

“Drivers will be getting to grips with four new tracks. That’s quite a challenge!

“It gives me great pleasure to see that the calendar reflects the rejuvenation of our discipline and I am grateful to all the circuits that will be hosting races in the eagerly awaited season to come.”

2024 FIA World Endurance Championship Schedule:
Feb. 24-25 — Prologue (Qatar)
March 2 — Qatar 1812km
April 21 — 6 Hours of Imola
May 11 — 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps
June 15-16 — 24 Hours of Le Mans
July 14 — 6 Hours of São Paulo
Sept. 1 — Lone Star Le Mans (COTA)
Sept. 15 — 6 Hours of Fuji
Nov. 2 — 8 Hours of Bahrain

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John