How to Watch the 6 Hours of Imola 2026 – Preview and Guide

Ferrari returns to Imola not simply as the home favourite, but as the team everybody now has in their sights. The Italian marque arrives in Emilia-Romagna as the reigning FIA World Endurance Championship Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ title-holder after sealing both crowns in Bahrain at the end of 2025, and it does so at a circuit that gave its adoring tifosi one of last season’s defining afternoons, when the #51 crew of Antonio Giovinazzi, James Calado and Alessandro Pier Guidi converted pole position into victory.

This time, the stakes are higher again. With the Qatar 1812km postponed until later in the campaign, the 6 Hours of Imola becomes the opening round of the 2026 season, with the first meaningful answers of the year set to come at one of the calendar’s more exacting venues. At 4.909km in length and comprising 21 corners, Imola is a circuit that tends to reveal plenty, and reveal it quickly. It asks for rhythm, restraint and precision, and as a place to begin a new championship, it offers very little room to ease your way in. 

There is plenty to measure from the outset. 

A 35-car field will take the start, with 17 Hypercars and 18 LMGT3 entries representing 14 major automotive manufacturers. Ferrari launches its title defence on home soil, Toyota arrives with an updated TR010 HYBRID and a chance to celebrate its 100th FIA WEC appearance with a 50th race win, Genesis is preparing for its first start at the pinnacle of international endurance racing and Alpine returns to a track where it reached the rostrum in 2025. For a championship that produced seven different winning Hypercar crews across eight races last year, Imola feels like a fitting place to begin again.

IMOLA AT A GLANCE

• Season-opener: The 6 Hours of Imola is the first round of the 2026 FIA WEC campaign following the postponement of Qatar
• Key dates: The race weekend begins with free practice on Friday, 17 April and concludes with the six-hour race on Sunday, 19 April
• The circuit: The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari measures 4.909km and features 21 turns, split between 12 left-handers and nine right-handers
• Friday timetable: Free Practice 1 starts at 10:15 local time (CEST), followed by Free Practice 2 at 15:15
• Saturday timetable: Free Practice 3 begins at 10:30, before LMGT3 qualifying at 14:30, LMGT3 Hyperpole at 14:50, Hypercar qualifying at 15:10 and Hypercar Hyperpole at 15:30
• Race day: the 6 Hours of Imola starts at 13:00 local time on Sunday, 19 April
• The field: 35 crews will line up in Italy – 17 in Hypercar and 18 in LMGT3 – representing 14 manufacturers across the grid
• Headline storylines: Ferrari defends both world titles, Toyota reaches a potential milestone weekend and Genesis begins its journey in FIA WEC’s top-tier

How to watch the FIA WEC 6 Hours of Imola live

Genesis is not the only new entry in FIA WEC in 2026, as fans can watch the action live on FIAWEC+, the new home of endurance racing.

Follow all of FP3, qualifying and the race, with live and on-demand viewing throughout the weekend.

FIAWEC+ offers fans more than just a live broadcast. With on-board cameras, Live Timing Pro, full replays and exclusive content, it delivers a richer, more immersive way to experience the battles that shape the race. From the first round at Imola to the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, FIAWEC+ is where the season comes to life.

Watch the 6 Hours of Imola on FIAWEC+ or check out the full event broadcasting guide for the complete picture.