The FIA/ACO announced a provisional schedule on 1 September 2017 that shifted the FIA World Endurance Championship calendar from a spring to autumn layout with the 24 Hours of Le Mans marque event held in the middle of the championship, and include two runnings of Le Mans.

The shift allowed the following 2019–20 season to return to a shorter length by starting in the autumn and concluding at Le Mans in the summer.

The Provisional Calendar saw a raft of changes, with several races dropped, but included a return to Sebring for the first time since 2012.

[2] On 21 September 2017, the race became known as the 1,500 Miles of Sebring, to avoid confusion between the 2 events, at the FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris.

Many of the drivers and team personnel were in Europe, and thus would be unable to travel to the United States for the race.