staddoha.com
With the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) in the thick of action, the popularity of motorsports is on the rise in the country.
The advent of Formula One, besides the MotoGP and Qatar International Baja in the FIFA 2022 World Cup host country has been a tremendous boost to the motor sports in the country.
On the domestic front, QSTK 600 and QSSP 300 (bikes), QTCC 2K and M240 (cars) and Qatar Touring Car Championship has further strengthened Qatar’s position as a growing hub of motorsports in the region.
The recently-concluded first round of 2021 Qatar Off-Road Championship last Saturday at Sealine was an affirmation of the ever-growing attraction of the sport among the Qatari youth.
This year’s Qatar Off-Road Championship, which was earlier called Qatar National Baja series, is a mixture of Enduro and Baja.
The opening round saw Mohammed Al Balooshi (Moto: 450 cc), Jaco Anderson (Over 450 cc), Emiel Stuckens (Quad) and Ahmed Allouh (Auto) winning in their respective categories.
The championship will consist of five more rounds, with the next round scheduled from October 22 and 23. It will be an endurance round followed by the third while the remaining three will be the Baja category rounds.
The sixth and final round, which will be staged from December 10 to 11, will offer double points to the participants.
Each round is held on a desert circuit designed for the competition and are open to vehicles in the following classes: Class 1 – Motorcycles up to and including 450cc; Class 2 – Motorcycles over 450cc and Class 3 – Quads. Each round
Qatar Off-Road Championship – Round 1 winners
Moto: 450 cc
1: Mohammed Al Balooshi
2: Abdullah Al Shatti
3: Khalid Alfalasi
Over 450 cc
1: Jaco Anderson
2: Sheikh Mohamed Al Thani
3: Fawaz Al Shatti
Quad
1: Emiel Stuckens
2: Brian Wolfaardt
Auto
1: Ahmed Allouh
2: Mohammed Ameer
3: Abdulla Al khelaifi