Dubai 24-hour sports car race canceled for 2027 season

Where Diplomacy Meets News

Follow us on X

Sport

Dubai 24-hour sports car race canceled for 2027 season

Editorial Team

September 19, 2026

Dubai 24-hour sports car race canceled for 2027 season — Illustrative photo: Creative Commons/Philipp Fahlbusch/pexels

Dubai 24-hour sports car race 2027 moved to Kyalami, South Africa

DUBAI,— Creventic will not hold its annual 24-hour endurance race in Dubai in January 2027, the Dutch organizer said, as ongoing tension in the Middle East forces changes across the international racing calendar.

The company said on Thursday its entire 24H Series Middle East lineup will not go ahead as planned.

That decision cancels the 24h Dubai and pushes back the 6-hour and 12-hour races that had been planned for Abu Dhabi.

The 2027 edition of the 24h Dubai had been scheduled for Jan. 8-10 at Dubai Autodrome. In its place, Creventic will hold a 24-hour race at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in South Africa on that same weekend.

The switch marks the return of international GT racing to Kyalami, which last hosted the series during three rounds of the Intercontinental GT Challenge between 2019 and 2021.

Kyalami is known for corners with distinct names, including Crowthorne and Mineshaft. To help teams learn the layout ahead of the race, Creventic plans three days of testing for participants during race week.

The two Abu Dhabi races, both slated for Yas Marina Circuit, have been pushed to a later date. Creventic said it would release more details on the rescheduling in the coming days.

Rising shipping costs and uncertainty over transport planning played a role in the decision, the company said.

Creventic had earlier said it was already assessing Kyalami as a backup option in case the conflict in the region continued into the winter season.

Registration for the Kyalami race is now open to teams.

Kyalami last hosted an international sports car endurance race in 2023, when the Kyalami 9 Hour ran as part of the Intercontinental GT Challenge under the organization of SRO Motorsports Group.

The upcoming 24-hour event will be the first international race of its kind held at the circuit.

Creventic General Manager Helen Roukens said changing the company’s long-standing Middle East schedule was not an easy call to make.

She said Creventic values its relationships with both Dubai Autodrome and Yas Marina Circuit, and thanked both venues for their cooperation and understanding during the process.

Roukens added that Creventic is excited to bring its 24-hour series to Kyalami for the first time.

She said the track’s history, facilities and layout make it a strong fit for the series, and that the team is looking forward to racing in South Africa in January.

Kyalami CEO Toby Venter said hosting the race adds to the circuit’s record of holding major international motorsport events.

He pointed to Kyalami’s long history with endurance racing, including the Kyalami 9 Hour, and said the new event will be the first international 24-hour race held anywhere in South Africa.

(With files from sportscar365.com, speedweek.com)