FIA World Endurance Championship has made changes to the final 33% of the 2021 race schedule.
It’s naturally due to the COVID-19 situation, and the challenges that it keeps bringing, all around the world.
LMEM and ACO, unfortunately, have to cancel the trip to Fuji Speedway, since Japan is still troubled by the infection rates, and has very strong quarantine rules, which would make it very difficult and expensive for everybody involved in the series.
The organizers have decided to run two rounds at Bahrain International Circuit, finishing the season off with a 6 hour race on 30 October, and an 8-hour race the following Saturday – 6 November.
The 8-hour race was already planned i Bahrain, but has been brought a couple of weeks forward. By running the two events, two weekends in a row at the same circuit, saves a lot of travel expenses, and travel complications for people moving around between countries.
The Asian Le Mans Series 2020/21 was run with the same concept, where Dubai Autodrome and Yas Marina Circuit held two races each, within 10 days.
The 2021 schedule was already reduced from 8 to 6 races compared to previous seasons, to avoid pushing too much economical pressure on the teams, after a tough 2020 for businesses, which has turned out to stretch into 2021 as well. The season opener at Sebring was moved to Portimao, which later on was moved into June, since the 24 Hours of Le Mans was moved from June to August.