The start of the season is here with the 2024 Qatar 1812 km as the World Endurance Championship is back in action. Here's our preview for the March 2 event!
Image credit: World Endurance Championship on Twitter
After the first full-blown Hypercar campaign in 2023, the WEC’s star continues to shine brightly. Two manufacturers may have left the top class of the World Endurance Championship in Glickenhaus and Vanwall, but the Hypercar grid still expands for 2024. Alpine, Isotta Fraschini and Lamborghini all field new entries, and BMW is bringing its IMSA-experienced M Hybrid V8 to the grand endurance stage.
More change is in order for the rest of the grid. With the exception of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the LMP2 class will not take part in WEC races anymore, as the series downsizes to just two classes for the majority of events. The ever-popular GTE class is not part of this anymore, however, as LMGT3 is making its debut.
LMGT3 cars like the BMW M4 GT3 replace the GTE class from 2024 onwards. Image credit: BMW Press
Meanwhile, Porsche customer team Jota fields a second 963 in 2024, matching the two-car works effort of Porsche Penske Motorsport. A fifth 963 is entered by Proton Competition, like in 2023, making it the Hypercar with the most examples on the grid.
No other Hypercar can match the numbers of the Porsche 963 (pictured: both Jota entries). Image credit: Porsche Newsroom
LMGT3 will field even more car models, however. A total of ten different GT3 vehicle types will take to the grid in Qatar, with much of the internationally-renowned GT elite behind the wheels. Most eyes will likely be on MotoGP legend and GT3 convert Valentino Rossi, as the Italian is going to share a BMW M4 GT3 with Maxime Martin and Ahmad Al Harthy for Team WRT.
Several other drivers are sure to turn heads as well. 2009 Formula One World Champion Jenson Button will pilot the #38 Jota Porsche 963 alongside Philip Hanson and Oliver Rasmussen. French manufacturer Alpine is set to debut its A424 with Mick Schumacher at the wheel – the German is joined by Nicolas Lapierre and Matthieu Vaxivière. Other notable pilots include Robert Kubica (AF Corse Ferrari 499P) and reigning IndyCar Champion Alex Palou (Cadillac), to name a few. If you are familiar with endurance racing, you will find countless other drivers of international fame on the entry list.
Both Mick Schumacher and the Alpine A424 Hypercar are making their WEC debuts in Qatar. Image credit (2): Alpine Newsroom
Qatar marks the starting point of the 2024 campaign, sporting a rather unorthodox event name as the Qatar 1812 km. Why not go with a certain amount of hours or a more conventional distance? The answer is the Qatar National Day, which is December 18. Hence, the race is scheduled for 335 laps (or 10 hours maximum) to pass this distance – all 335 laps would equal 1,814.75 km, however.
The track itself has a few quite technical sections, particularly in the middle sector, but also features some medium-to-high-speed corners in the final sector. Not too much elevation change is present at the circuit. Despite its modern surroundings, gravel traps are found in many run-off areas instead of tarmac, so teams will want to avoid getting stuck in the kitty litter.
Once testing did actually got underway, it was the #5 Porsche Penske 963 that led the timing sheets ahead of the #2 Cadillac. The customer Ferrari was slightly ahead of both works 499P, with the two BMW prototypes placing 10th and 11th, respectively.
The biggest surprise was the Toyota squad, however. The reigning WEC champions only managed 12th and 13th positions in the Prologue, only besting both Alpines and the sole Lamborghini on the grid.
The sole customer Ferrari 499P of AF Corse managed to best the works cars in the 2024 WEC Prologue. Image credit: Ferrari Media Centre
Meanwhile, the LMGT3 field was rather varied in the Prologue, with Lexus and Ferrari running up front – albeit behind the #777 D’Station Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo.
The Prologue results are to be taken with a grain of salt, however. Not all cars have run in the event, so expect a different running order come race day. Among the nine cars to not turn a lap were both Jota Porsche 963s and the Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6, as well as both Corvette Z06 LMGT3s and both Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2 entries.
Find the full 2024 WEC Prologue results here.
Green Flag: 08:00 UTC
Europe: Eurosport (first and final two hours on Eurosport 2) plus additional TV stations per country
Additionally, check the official WEC Qatar 1812 km broadcast guide for country-specific TV stations and online broadcasters.
Who are you rooting for in the 2024 Qatar 1812 km WEC season opener? Let us know in the comments below!
Image credit: World Endurance Championship on Twitter
After the first full-blown Hypercar campaign in 2023, the WEC’s star continues to shine brightly. Two manufacturers may have left the top class of the World Endurance Championship in Glickenhaus and Vanwall, but the Hypercar grid still expands for 2024. Alpine, Isotta Fraschini and Lamborghini all field new entries, and BMW is bringing its IMSA-experienced M Hybrid V8 to the grand endurance stage.
More change is in order for the rest of the grid. With the exception of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the LMP2 class will not take part in WEC races anymore, as the series downsizes to just two classes for the majority of events. The ever-popular GTE class is not part of this anymore, however, as LMGT3 is making its debut.
LMGT3 cars like the BMW M4 GT3 replace the GTE class from 2024 onwards. Image credit: BMW Press
Changes Throughout The Grid
The result is a 37-car entry list – actually capped at that number due to the garages at some tracks on the calendar not allowing for more - for the season opener in Qatar, featuring 19 hypercar entries and 18 GT3 vehicles. Not only are two more models present in the Hypercar class, but also a few more customer cars. A third Ferrari 499P will be run by AF Corse, which also handles the entries of the two works Ferraris.Meanwhile, Porsche customer team Jota fields a second 963 in 2024, matching the two-car works effort of Porsche Penske Motorsport. A fifth 963 is entered by Proton Competition, like in 2023, making it the Hypercar with the most examples on the grid.
No other Hypercar can match the numbers of the Porsche 963 (pictured: both Jota entries). Image credit: Porsche Newsroom
LMGT3 will field even more car models, however. A total of ten different GT3 vehicle types will take to the grid in Qatar, with much of the internationally-renowned GT elite behind the wheels. Most eyes will likely be on MotoGP legend and GT3 convert Valentino Rossi, as the Italian is going to share a BMW M4 GT3 with Maxime Martin and Ahmad Al Harthy for Team WRT.
Several other drivers are sure to turn heads as well. 2009 Formula One World Champion Jenson Button will pilot the #38 Jota Porsche 963 alongside Philip Hanson and Oliver Rasmussen. French manufacturer Alpine is set to debut its A424 with Mick Schumacher at the wheel – the German is joined by Nicolas Lapierre and Matthieu Vaxivière. Other notable pilots include Robert Kubica (AF Corse Ferrari 499P) and reigning IndyCar Champion Alex Palou (Cadillac), to name a few. If you are familiar with endurance racing, you will find countless other drivers of international fame on the entry list.
Both Mick Schumacher and the Alpine A424 Hypercar are making their WEC debuts in Qatar. Image credit (2): Alpine Newsroom
The Calendar Grows
With an abundance of change on the grid, the calendar itself has also been altered significantly. Gone are Sebring, Portimao and Monza, in are Qatar, Imola, Interlagos and COTA. This expands the calendar from seven to eight rounds, with the final in Bahrain to be held on November 2.Qatar marks the starting point of the 2024 campaign, sporting a rather unorthodox event name as the Qatar 1812 km. Why not go with a certain amount of hours or a more conventional distance? The answer is the Qatar National Day, which is December 18. Hence, the race is scheduled for 335 laps (or 10 hours maximum) to pass this distance – all 335 laps would equal 1,814.75 km, however.
Lusail International Circuit
Making its debut in WEC, the Lusail International Circuit is almost 20 years old in 2024. Having been opened in September 2004, the circuit has been hosting the MotoGP Qatar Motorcycle Grand Prix since then, and even had F1 visit the track in 2021 for the first time. The Formula One Qatar Grand Prix returned in 2023 and also features on the 2024 calendar.The track itself has a few quite technical sections, particularly in the middle sector, but also features some medium-to-high-speed corners in the final sector. Not too much elevation change is present at the circuit. Despite its modern surroundings, gravel traps are found in many run-off areas instead of tarmac, so teams will want to avoid getting stuck in the kitty litter.
2024 WEC Prologue Results
Official pre-season testing was conducted at the Lusail International Circuit ahead of the race at the venue, but the WEC Prologue took place slightly later than planned due to logistical challenges surrounding the Suez Canal.Once testing did actually got underway, it was the #5 Porsche Penske 963 that led the timing sheets ahead of the #2 Cadillac. The customer Ferrari was slightly ahead of both works 499P, with the two BMW prototypes placing 10th and 11th, respectively.
The biggest surprise was the Toyota squad, however. The reigning WEC champions only managed 12th and 13th positions in the Prologue, only besting both Alpines and the sole Lamborghini on the grid.
The sole customer Ferrari 499P of AF Corse managed to best the works cars in the 2024 WEC Prologue. Image credit: Ferrari Media Centre
Meanwhile, the LMGT3 field was rather varied in the Prologue, with Lexus and Ferrari running up front – albeit behind the #777 D’Station Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo.
The Prologue results are to be taken with a grain of salt, however. Not all cars have run in the event, so expect a different running order come race day. Among the nine cars to not turn a lap were both Jota Porsche 963s and the Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6, as well as both Corvette Z06 LMGT3s and both Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2 entries.
Find the full 2024 WEC Prologue results here.
How To Watch The 2024 Qatar 1812 km
Date: March 2, 2024Green Flag: 08:00 UTC
Brodacasts
Global: FIAWEC.TV app (paid subscription)Europe: Eurosport (first and final two hours on Eurosport 2) plus additional TV stations per country
Additionally, check the official WEC Qatar 1812 km broadcast guide for country-specific TV stations and online broadcasters.
Who are you rooting for in the 2024 Qatar 1812 km WEC season opener? Let us know in the comments below!
