Qatar is set to become the latest country to host a Formula 1 race with the country’s motorsport chief saying they are about to sign a deal.
The Gulf state already has a prominent presence in motorsport as the Losail International Circuit has hosted MotoGP races for several years now while the World Superbike Championship returned to the track last year.
F1 appears to be next up with FIA vice-president Nasser bin Khalifa al-Attiyah, who is also the president of the country’s motorsport federation, saying they are set to make their debut within the next two years.
“We are about to sign contracts to organize a Formula One race,” he told Agence France-Presse. “We have completed all the steps and there are only a few details before the official signature.”
The Losail International Circuit is not the only venue in the running to host the grand prix as Al-Attiyah added that a specially-designed street course through the capital Doha is also being considered.
The news of a Qatar Grand Prix will come as a surprise to many as only a few months ago F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone admitted their chances are not looking good as the country needed the approval of the Bahrain and Abu Dhabi promoters, who were not very keen back then.
Obviously very deserving of a GP, after all, look at the long history of Qatar in motor sport (I have a copy here, written on the back of a postage stamp).
Looking at Thailand’s position with the new circuit at Buriram – having raced there last year, the circuit is ready. All that is needed now is for Bernie to state the price, and for Thailand to cough up. That simple, really, but with the tight financial situation, that is not so easy!
