QATAR’S MOTORSPORTS LANDSCAPE: HISTORY, LEGACY AND FUTURE
Qatar’s sole motorsport authority, the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) has played an instrumental role in building national motorsport capabilities. Since its launch in 1987, the non-profit organization remains on a mission to develop motorsport not only in Qatar but across the region with due attention to safety and fairness.
Actively promoting Qatar’s profile in the global sporting arena, QMMF has worked tirelessly to deliver the country's annual motorsports calendar for more than 36 years. The entity has hosted several events including the Qatar International Rally, one of the main events of the Middle East Rally Championship (MERC), as well as the Qatar International Baja, an off-road spectacle that sees international contenders navigate Qatar’s varied terrains on their quads, bikes and SSVs. Qatar Off-Road Championships and the Qatar National Sprint are some other flagship motorsports events the country stages routinely.
Building a state-of-the-art motorsports venue
Taking its motorsports aspirations to new heights, Qatar launched the 5.38 km, 16-corner Lusail International Circuit (LIC) in 2004, under the patronage of the Ministry of Sports and Youth and with the support of QMMF; the premier circuit has been one of the key locations for MotoGP. LIC also became the stage to major global motorsports and hosted the World Superbike Championship for 14 years consecutively between 2005 and 2019.
The year 2021 marked a milestone for Qatar’s motorsports scene as the country hosted its first-ever Formula 1 race at LIC. Adding another feat to its motorsports portfolio, QMMF then entered an agreement with F1 to bring the pinnacle motorsport event to Qatar for the next 10 years, starting from 2023.
Since its establishment, LIC has gone above and beyond to offer exceptional experiences to organizers, drivers, racers, and fans. Equipped with leading-edge features and hospitality spaces, the circuit has acquired the highest license levels from the FIA - Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (Circuit License Grade 1) and Circuit License Grade A (FIM), and is known as one of the best race tracks in the Middle East.
Nurturing the next generation of racers
Sustainable sports development is a key objective of the Qatar National Vision 2030 and one of the ways the country is achieving that is through cultivating a motorsports mindset and supporting young racing talent. Founded in 2019, by QMMF and managed by LIC, the Qatar Motorsports Academy (QMA), is serving this purpose. With two distinct sections covering karting and motorcycling, the academy engages Qatari and expatriate kids in a competitive and controlled environment to acquire the best skills via well-rounded programs comprising theoretical and practical training sessions. The nation’s strong legacy of motorsports also thrives on a regional scale with on-going events which showcase budding talent across the MENA region. The MiniGP Championship is a unique event for young racers aspiring to excel in motoracing and Qatar recently hosted the race earlier this year at LIC’s karting track. Another initiative by QMMF is the Qatar Karting Championship which nurtures Qatar’s homegrown talent and provides them with a state-of-the-art platform with top-notch facilities.
A limitless future
The efforts of these national entities have not only culminated in cementing Qatar’s position as a world-class motorsports and entertainment destination but have also paved the way for leading championships such as Formula 1 and MotoGP to return to the country for the next decade. Qatar’s prowess as an exceptional host with top-tier motorsports infrastructure has also meant that the country will continue to attract the biggest names in the global motorsports calendar with 2024 already featuring the prologue of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship in February and the opening round - Qatar 1812 km – in March.