Lusail International Circuit (LIC) opened its doors today for the FORMULA 1™ QATAR AIRWAYS QATAR GRAND PRIX 2024, kicking off an exciting race weekend with a celebration of Qatar’s motorsport heritage.
The evening’s highlight was a stunning motorsport showcase on the Lusail International Circuit grid, attended by Saeed Al Hajri, former rally champion; Abdulrazaq Al Kuwari, General Secretary of Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation; Abdulrahman Al Mannai; and Amro Al Hamad.
The Qatar Motorsports Academy demonstrated Qatar’s motorsport development programme, featuring ten distinctive racing vehicles. These included a kart, Formula 4 car, two GT cars participating in the Porsche Cup, an Off-Road Rally car, a Cross car, and three motorcycles – a Moto2 bike, Honda NSF250, and Ohvale 160. This lineup represented the wide range of racing disciplines in Qatar, underscoring the nation’s commitment to nurturing talent from grassroots to professional levels.
Earlier, fans were treated to unprecedented access to Formula 1®, including the traditional Pit Lane Walk from 1 pm to 3:45 pm, providing an up-close view of the teams’ garages. The ‘F1 in Schools’ programme also engaged fans with pit lane activities from 4 pm to 5:45 pm.
The first official F1 Drivers’ press conference of the weekend added to the day’s excitement, setting the stage for three thrilling days of racing at Lusail International Circuit.
Abdulrahman bin Abdullatif Al Mannai, President of the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation and Lusail International Circuit. said, ‘As we begin the FORMULA 1™ QATAR AIRWAYS QATAR GRAND PRIX 2024, I warmly welcome all teams, drivers, and fans to Lusail International Circuit. Tonight’s showcase perfectly reflects our vision of becoming a hub for motorsport development in the region. By displaying the breadth of racing disciplines available through the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation and Qatar Motorsports Academy, we reaffirm Qatar’s commitment to fostering the next generation of motorsport talent. We are honoured to host this prestigious event and eagerly anticipate a weekend of exciting competition. Best wishes to all drivers and teams for a successful and safe race.’
Saeed Al Hajri added: ‘It is a wonderful occasion to meet our motorsports champions today, who we hope will represent Qatar honourably on the international stage. My heartfelt gratitude goes to Mr Abdulrahman bin Abdulatif Al Mannai for his dedication to the future of motorsports in Qatar, showcasing a clear vision for developing the sport and supporting national talent to achieve excellence.’
The FORMULA 1® QATAR AIRWAYS QATAR GRAND PRIX 2024 continues with the first practice sessions and qualifying, building up to Sunday’s main race under Lusail’s spectacular lights.
For the latest updates and information, download the official Lusail International Circuit (LIC) app or visit the official website.
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