Six-Round 2021 WEC Schedule Released

Photo: Toyota

The FIA World Endurance Championship will be reduced into a six-round season next year, as part of a cost-savings initiative from the FIA and ACO amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Released Friday in a video presentation at Le Mans, the 2021 season is provisionally slated to kick off at Sebring International Raceway as part of the ‘Super Sebring’ event with IMSA in mid-March.

A two day pre-season test is scheduled for the weekend prior at the famed Florida airfield circuit.

The event is subject to health protocols amid the coronavirus pandemic and could be replaced by a six-hour race in Europe instead, according to WEC CEO Gerard Neveu.

It will then be followed by European rounds at Spa-Francorchamps, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and a six-hour race at Monza in July, followed by a return to Fuji and ending the season in Bahrain in November.

“We listened to our manufacturers, teams and partners and responded with a calendar featuring fewer events than in the past to allow them all time to deal with the current economic crisis,” said Neveu.

“We will revise this upwards again in the future, as and when the health situation and the economy allows us to do so – hopefully from 2022 onwards.

“The calendar also takes into account our logistical road map as it provides our teams with the most cost-effective package possible.”

There are currently no clashes between the WEC schedule and the recently released IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship calendar.

The 2021 calendar has been presented to the FIA Endurance Commission and will be submitted to the FIA World Motor Sport Council for approval in December.

2021 FIA World Endurance Championship Schedule (Provisional):
March 13-14 — Pre-Season Test (Sebring)
March 19 — 1000 Miles of Sebring
May 1 — Six Hours of Spa
June 12-13 — 24 Hours of Le Mans
July 18 — Six Hours Monza
Sept. 26 — Six Hours of Fuji
Nov. 20 — Six 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