WEC reveals details of double header in Bahrain

The Covid-19 pandemic got the better of the 6 Hours of Fuji which was to take place on September 26. Instead, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest confirmed last month a “double header” on the Bahrain circuit to close the 2021 season. Several weeks later, the WEC has just revealed the details of this unprecedented event in the world endurance championship.

Fifth round of the season, and the first after the 24 hours of Le Mans, the 6 Hours of Bahrain will take place on October 30. The race will start at 11:00 a.m. (local time) and end late in the afternoon at 17:00 p.m.

The final round of the season, scheduled for November 6, will be very different. This time the race will last 8 hours, and will start at 14:00 p.m. (local time) and finish at 22:00 p.m. The temperature between the two races will therefore be very different, which could play a role in the teams' strategy. However, the route will remain the same. If in Formula 1, the pilots took a layout shorter, the WEC organizers have decided that the last two rounds will take place on the classic 5,4 km circuit.

“It will be interesting to see the different strategies that the teams will adopt for this double-header, explains Frédéric Lequien, CEO of the WEC. “I’m excited to return to Bahrain to crown a new WEC champion at the end of our first ever double header.”

A maximum of 63 points will then be distributed on the Sakhir circuit. 25 points for the first 6 hour race and 38 points for the last round of the season. Before that, the drivers will have to face the Sarthe circuit and the 24 hours of Le Mans at the end of August.

The @fia #WEC will conclude its 2021 season with a double-header in @BAH_Int_Circuit, marking the championship's first ever back-to-back race weekend.

All details on https://t.co/npNU9AKkHH.#6HBahrain #8HBahrain pic.twitter.com/oEemL6IpnU

- WEC (@FIAWEC) July 26, 2021