The State of Qatar Prepares to Host F1 Races in November, Announces Strategic Partnership for 11 More Races

Doha, September 30 (QNA) - Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) signed today an agreement with the Formula 1 that will see the State of Qatar host 11 races starting this season. The Qatar Grand Prix will take place Nov. 19-21 on Losail International Circuit. The Qatar Grand Prix replaces the canceled Australian Grand Prix, helping the Formula 1 championship achieve its goal of hosting a full 22-race season. The race will take place amidst delight from fans and drivers for resuming the closely-watched race. The State of Qatar has a proven track record of hosting international sports events within the latest sports facilities, advanced infrastructure and extensive experience in managing major events, and Doha's strategic geographical location is an element of great benefit to Formula 1 in terms of logistics, and allows larger numbers of fans Traveling and attending the race. During the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), Doha had recently proven its position as one of the most reliable and safe sports destinations for hosting major events. In this year's race, Formula 1 will use the racing circuit already available in the State of Qatar, which has already hosted many car-racing events, including the MotoGP series since 2004. The agreement includes hosting 11 races over 12 seasons, with Ooredoo as the title sponsor for the event. It was also agreed that the race would not be hosted during 2022 because it coincided with Qatar's hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, but it will return in 2023 to be held over the next ten years until 2032. Thanks to this year's race, car-racing fans from all over the world will be able to travel to the State of Qatar to enjoy Qatari hospitality and its tourism, Qatar also has a rich sporting record of hosting motorcycle racing and major sporting events such as the Asian Games, the Club World Cup, the World Men's Handball Championship and the Asian Football Cup, in addition to many other sporting events, including the World Athletics Championships and the Diamond League in Athletics. In remarks made on the agreement, President of Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) Abdulrahman Al Mannai, said: "This is a very special day for Qatar Motorsport and our nations ambitions as a host of major sporting events...I’m very proud that we’ve been able to support Formula 1 by stepping in and hosting a race in our country in such a short time frame, while also securing a ground-breaking long term deal with F1." He added that QMMF was grateful for Ooredoo's contribution to this historic event. "This exciting agreement means that Qatar will be the home of both Formula 1 and MotoGP for the next decade, which are the pinnacle events in global motorsport. We have a proud motorsport history, and this is the next chapter for us. Qatar will be a great destination for F1, and we look forward to welcoming all the drivers, teams, media and fans very soon," he added. For his part, F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali said "We are very pleased to welcome Qatar to the Formula 1 calendar this season and for the longer term from 2023." He also praised the efforts of the State of Qatar and QMMF in helping to arrange the Grand Prix on short notice. He highlighted that both the State of Qatar and QMMF moved at great speed to ensure the race can take place this season at the Losail Circuit, which is famous as the host of MotoGP. He also said that thanks to the great efforts made by everyone involved, the F1 and FIA can now deliver a 22-race calendar, describing the feat as very impressive during a challenging year and something to be proud of. Meanwhile, FIA President Jean Tod said: "I congratulate Formula 1, the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation and the Qatari authorities, who have worked tirelessly to quickly and efficiently make the inaugural Grand Prix in Qatar happen in these challenging times." He added that the Losail International Circuit, which will welcome the race, has been working closely with the FIA to ensure they are fully prepared to host the event. He also expressed his pride at the collective achievement. "This commitment to F1 for the long term, as well as the organization of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and many other international events, is another example of Qatar’s strong passion for sport," he said. For his part, Managing Director of Ooredoo Group, Aziz Al Othman Fakhro expressed his happiness for the State of Qatar hosting an event of such importance and position on the global sporting agenda. He noted that Ooredoo is honored to be an official sponsor and to support the QMMF in hosting the first Formula 1 race in Qatar. He added that Ooredoo has a rich history of supporting major sporting events in line with the company's corporate social responsibility strategy. He expressed the company's pride that the Formula 1 sponsorship will be added to this history. He also thanked Ooredoo partners Formula 1 and QMMF for trusting the company, saying it looks forward to holding exciting races and whished all competitors well. Founded on July 21, 1987, the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation is a non-profit governmental organization and the sole motorsport authority in the State of Qatar, its main mission is to promote motorsport in the State of Qatar and the Middle East region within the standards of safety, health and integrity, the federation is focused on helping young drivers develop their skills and passion for motorsport, including by hosting major global motorsport events such as the MotoGP races and now the Formula 1 championship in Qatar. It is noteworthy that the first Formula 1 championship races began in 1950, and is considered one of the most famous car races in the world, in addition to being one of the most famous annual sporting event in the world. Ooredoo on the other hand, is an international telecommunications company operating in the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia, serving consumers and businesses in ten countries, providing a broad data experience of content and services across its advanced mobile and fixed networks. (QNA)