Only two tracks in the world currently host events for F1, MotoGP and WEC – and only one of them faces the unique challenge of doing so at a location where the desert heat prevents summer racing.
For a long time, if you asked anyone about motorsport in Qatar they would instantly talk to you about MotoGP – the championship has raced at Lusail International Circuit since 2004 and has a contract for another seven years.
Now, though, F1 is also a staple in the city just 14 miles north of Qatar’s capital Doha. Lusail staged a round of the 2021 Covid-affected championship before becoming a permanent fixture in 2023, with a 10-year deal now in place.
Add to that the arrival of WEC and the Qatar 1812km earlier this year and the Lusail International Circuit (LIC) is making an impact on global motorsport – with only the Circuit of Americas in Austin also staging the same three series at present.
“It is putting us on the on the map now, not only in the region, but worldwide,” Amro Al-Hamad, LIC chief executive, explains.
“You start comparing us to a circuit that is placed in the US and has a huge history. For us, we were only concentrated on MotoGP for so many years and we just opened our doors to see what we can host here and enhance and strengthen our position as a hub for motorsports, not only in the region but also worldwide.
“We're hosting the three jewels, I do call them, and I don't know if that's being called that outside or not, but it's the three jewels, the MotoGP, the WEC and Formula 1 and in the region nobody else does that.”
LIC cannot host motorsport events during the summer heat, meaning their calendar is packed in for the remainder of the year.
That presents its own pressure for organisers, who can only schedule racing for certain dates.
“I wouldn't say the best, but we're one of the top not only in the region, but worldwide,” added Al-Hamad.
“That is the feedback that came from all the drivers and all the athletes that came and joined one of our events here, and the type of praise and positive feedback that we received is mega. So if this tells anything, it says how beautiful and how adequate and how ready our facility is.
“Minding the time that we have to be out of motorsports because of the summer and the weather where we cannot actually operate.
“If we look do a comparison and a percentage between the days that we are allowed, or we can host motorsports events to the number of days where these events take place. I do think that we have a very high percentage amongst the top circuits in the world.”
