The ‘three jewels’ in the desert that have turned the Lusail International Circuit into a worldwide destination

Solely two tracks on this planet at present host occasions for F1, MotoGP and WEC – and solely considered one of them faces the distinctive problem of doing so at a location the place the desert warmth prevents summer season racing.

For a very long time, when you requested anybody about motorsport in Qatar they might immediately discuss to you about MotoGP – the championship has raced at Lusail Worldwide Circuit since 2004 and has a contract for one more seven years.

Now, although, F1 can also be a staple within the metropolis simply 14 miles north of Qatar’s capital Doha. Lusail staged a spherical of the 2021 Covid-affected championship earlier than turning into a everlasting fixture in 2023, with a 10-year deal now in place.

Add to that the arrival of WEC and the Qatar 1812km earlier this 12 months and the Lusail Worldwide Circuit (LIC) is making an impression on international motorsport – with solely the Circuit of Americas in Austin additionally staging the identical three collection at current.

“It’s placing us on the on the map now, not solely within the area, however worldwide,” Amro Al-Hamad, LIC chief government, explains.

“You begin evaluating us to a circuit that’s positioned within the US and has an enormous historical past. For us, we had been solely targeting MotoGP for thus a few years and we simply opened our doorways to see what we will host right here and improve and strengthen our place as a hub for motorsports, not solely within the area but additionally worldwide.

“We’re internet hosting the three jewels, I do name them, and I do not know if that is being referred to as that exterior or not, nevertheless it’s the three jewels, the MotoGP, the WEC and Formulation 1 and within the area no person else does that.”

LIC can’t host motorsport occasions throughout the summer season warmth, which means their calendar is packed in for the rest of the 12 months.

That presents its personal stress for organisers, who can solely schedule racing for sure dates.

“I would not say the most effective, however we’re one of many high not solely within the area, however worldwide,” added Al-Hamad.

“That’s the suggestions that got here from all of the drivers and all of the athletes that got here and joined considered one of our occasions right here, and the kind of reward and optimistic suggestions that we obtained is mega. So if this tells something, it says how lovely and the way satisfactory and the way prepared our facility is.

“Minding the time that we’ve got to be out of motorsports due to the summer season and the climate the place we can’t truly function.

“If we glance do a comparability and a proportion between the times that we’re allowed, or we will host motorsports occasions to the variety of days the place these occasions happen. I do assume that we’ve got a really excessive proportion amongst the highest circuits on this planet.”