Vinay Nayudu
Doha
Qatar will take another step forward in motorsports when a 7-member team will represent the nation at the prestigious FIA Motorsport Games 2024. The landmark The announcement came during a special event held at Lusail International Circuit on Monday, marking Qatar’s first-ever participation in the global competition often hailed as “Olympics of motorsport”.
The third edition of the FIA Motorsport Games will take place from October 23 to 27, 2023, in Valencia, Spain. The Games promises to be the largest yet, featuring 26 categories and attracting over 1,000 athletes from more than 100 countries. The third running of the biennial Games – jointly launched by the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and SRO Motorsports Group – also promises to be the biggest yet.
Amro Al Hamad, CEO of Lusail International Circuit, while addressing the gathering at the announcement of the Qatar team exuded enthusiasm, saying, “As a nation with a growing passion for motorsports, these drivers will represent Qatar on an international stage, showcasing their skill, determination, and the months of preparation.”
Qatar’s team for the 2024 FIA Motorsport Games comprises of seven talented drivers across five categories and includes Bader Al Sulaiti, F4 driver, Abdulaziz Al Kuwari a Rally 2 Gravel driver and his co-driver Nasser Al Kuwari, Ghanim Al Ali, GT, Ibrahim Abdulghani, GT, Saif Al Obaidli, Karting Mini and Khalid Al Maraghi, Esports GT.
“From F4 to Rally, GT, Touring Car, Karting, and even Esports, our drivers come from diverse disciplines, united by one goal: to make Qatar proud,” Al Hamad emphasized. “Their commitment and dedication are unmatched, and we are confident that their hard work will be on full display in Valencia.”
These talented drivers have undergone rigorous preparation, including intensive races, testing sessions, and a dedicated training camp in Europe this past summer, organized and supported by the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF). Their participation marks a significant milestone in Qatar’s motorsport journey.
The FIA Motorsport Games 2024 will see a major expansion in the number of categories across the full spectrum of the sport from Circuit Racing to Electric Street – that includes Auto Slalom and Karting Slalom – Karting, Esports, Off-road, and Rally. The events grow from 16 to 27. The Rally discipline grows from three categories to 10, while further new additions come from GT Single-Make, Esports F4, Karting Mini and Cross Car Mini.
Khalid Al Maraghi, competing in the ESports GT category for the FIA Motorsport Games, emphasized the team’s commitment to daily training in the lead-up to the event. Al Maraghi said: “Our goal is to compete at the highest level, striving for victory and making Qatar proud on the global stage”.
“It would be a proud moment for the entire team to be representing Qatar at the FIA Motorsport Games 2024,” added Al Maraghi. Ghanim Al Ali said, “All members of the team are looking to live up to the aspirations and thank the federation for the opportunity.
“This is going to be a new challenge and we are looking forward to a strong performance,” he added.
Exuding optimism and excitement was the team’s youngest member 10-year-0ld Saif Al Obaidli. “I have competed in competitions in Dubai and Italy and I am ready for this new challenge,” he quipped.
Coaxed further, he said, “There are participants from many countries and there is a lot of excitement and competition.”
The FIA Motorsport Games, jointly organized by the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and SRO Motorsports Group, has seen remarkable growth since its inception in 2019. The event brings together athletes from across the globe, fostering a unique spirit of sporting competition under national flags. The first FIA Motorsport Games were held in 2019 in Italy while the second took place in France in 2022.
These seven drivers in the FIA Motorsport Games are set to inspire a new generation of Qatari motorsport enthusiasts. Their dedication and skill will form the backbone of the country’s motorsport scene, both internationally and locally.
