Auto123.com - Helping you drive happy

FIA: Qatar almost ready to join F1 calendar

|
Obtain the best financial rate for your car loan at Automobile En DirectTecnic
Khatir Soltani
From GMM

Qatar could soon be ready to join the formula one calendar.

FIA president Jean Todt has just visited the Arab emirate, which already holds MotoGP races at the Losail circuit. Modifications at Losail are taking place with the aim of hosting formula one.

"Surely formula one is part of our future plans," Qatar Motor and Motorcycling Federation president Nasser bin Khalifa al-Attiyah confirmed, according to the Gulf Times.

"Once everything is in place the track will be evaluated by the safety commissioner and then the track will be licensed for official formula one testing. After that we will be ready to be part of the formula one circuit," he added.

The FIA's Charlie Whiting is scheduled to arrive in Qatar in the days following Sunday's season opening Bahrain grand prix. "We will do what Whiting will suggest. We shall fulfil all F1 requirements before we bid for a race," al-Attiyah is quoted as saying by the daily Peninsula newspaper.

Todt added: "It is easy for Qatar to host an F1 race. It is a commercial matter that has to be solved by the formula one body (FOM) and the local organisers. We already have two formula one races (Bahrain and Abu Dhabi) in the Middle East. It will be a welcome addition if Qatar also gets it," he said.


Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 8 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada