Qatar looks to secure F1 race hosting

Qatar is set to become the third Arabian Gulf nation too host a Formula One Prix race.

According to a report in The Independent newspaper in London, the Qatar GP will be part of the F1 calendar by 2017 at the latest, if the race gets the green light.

The Qatar race could be hosted at either the Lusail circuit or be a street race, which would help it to stand out from its Middle East rivals Abu Dhabi and Bahrain.

Formula One head Bernie Eccelstone said the negotiations, the details of which were confidential, are ongoing.

Ecclestone told The Independent “we are looking at all possibilities there. Qatar is not signed but they are ready to go.”

Hosting an F1 race would further boots Qatar’s credentials as a global sporting event host, with the Emirate having been recently announced as host of the 2019 World Athletics Championships.

The Independent reported that Qatar would have to pay in the region of US$78.4 million annually to host the race, which would exceed the record of US$72.6 million paid by Abu Dhabi for its hosting of the race at its Yas Island circuit (pictured above and below).

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