Lusail International Circuit

Lusail International Circuit sits north of Doha in Qatar, set amid the desert landscape that typifies much of the Gulf state's interior. The circuit measures 5.419 kilometres and runs 16 corners, of which six curve left and ten curve right, in a flowing layout that rewards smooth entry speed rather than late braking. A main straight of just over one kilometre feeds into the first heavy braking point, and the overall character of the lap is high-speed, with relatively few slow corners to break rhythm. The track is surrounded by artificial grass barriers designed to prevent desert sand from encroaching onto the racing surface, a practical solution to the challenges of operating a permanent facility in an arid environment.

Construction of the circuit was completed in under a year by a workforce of roughly 1,000 and the track opened in 2004 at a reported cost of US$58 million. The inaugural Qatar Motorcycle Grand Prix was held that same year, won by Sete Gibernau. Lusail built its reputation primarily through MotoGP, hosting Qatar as the traditional season-opener for years. In 2007 the circuit added permanent outdoor lighting to enable night racing, and the following year staged the first night race in MotoGP history. Formula One arrived for the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix in 2021, and in 2023 the circuit signed a ten-year extension keeping the Formula One race at Lusail through at least 2033. The circuit holds an FIA Grade 1 licence, the highest classification awarded to racing venues.

The WEC visits Qatar for the 1812 km de Qatar, a unique endurance format that replaces the standard six-hour duration with a fixed distance race. In 2026 the Qatar round was originally scheduled as the season opener but was postponed to October following geopolitical developments in the region. The night-race format under Lusail's permanent floodlighting gives the event a visually distinctive character among WEC rounds, and the smooth asphalt surface and consistent desert conditions generally produce predictable tyre behaviour, placing the strategic emphasis on fuel loads and pit-stop timing.