The organisers of the World Endurance Championship have announced the postponement of the season's opening race in Qatar due to ongoing events in the region and the resulting closure of airports.
The Qatar 1812km race was scheduled to take place between March 26 and 28 at Lusail International Circuit, which also hosts events from the MotoGP World Championship and the Formula 1 World Championship.
In an official statement, the organisers noted that the decision to postpone came in order to preserve the safety of participants, staff and fans, stressing that security remains a top priority in light of the current developments.
They explained that a new date for the race, scheduled for the second half of the season, will be determined and announced in due course.
The season is currently scheduled to begin with the Six Hours of Imola at the Italian Circuit from April 17 to 19, while the Le Mans 24 Hours will be at the top of the schedule in June.