WEC Still Planning for Spa August Race

Photo: James Moy/Toyota

The FIA World Endurance Championship is still planning to hold its race at Spa-Francorchamps in August despite new government restrictions that has prohibited all “mass events” until at least Aug. 31.

The measures announced by Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès on Wednesday had placed doubt into the rescheduled round, which is provisionally set for Aug. 15 as part of the globe-trotting championship’s overhauled 2019-20 calendar.

While SRO Motorsports Group has elected to postpone the Total 24 Hours of Spa in “fully respecting” the government’s decision, a WEC spokesperson told Sportscar365 that as of today “nothing in our plans have changed.”

“We are still planning to hold our race in August,” the spokesperson said. “We will know more in a couple of months and release more details then.”

When asked if the WEC would be prepared to race behind closed doors, as is the plan for the Nürburgring Langstrecken Serie, which faces similar government restrictions in Germany, the spokesperson said “it’s too early to say.”

Per regulations, a minimum of six races must be completed, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, to officially complete a championship, meaning the Spa or season-ending round in Bahrain would not be critical events. 

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