Qatar International Rally 2024

Events Details

Twenty-three crews and competitors from 17 nations will be flagged away from the ceremonial start of the Qatar International Rally at Lusail Boulevard from 7 pm on 1 February 2024.

The 2024 FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) will see the region’s finest drivers then heading to Jordan in May, Lebanon in September, Cyprus in October, and on to the finale in the Sultanate of Oman at the end of November. But the season’s opener across the demanding deserts of northern Qatar has attracted two of the hottest prospects in the sport and one of the long-established front-runners in the FIA World Rally Championship.

On 1 February 2024, following the official pre-event press conference on the start podium (18.30hrs), the rally gets underway from a new location on Lusail Boulevard at 7 pm.

Competitors will then tackle an exciting opening super special stage at the LCSC Karting Academy from 9 pm. Two cars will start out on the 1.09km asphalt course at the same time and complete two passes and two laps against each other for a total stage distance of 4.36km.

Schedule

1 February 2024

• 6:30 pm - Pre-rally press conference at Lusail Plaza Towers
• 7 pm - Rally start at Lusail Plaza Towers
• 8 pm - Super Special Stage at Lusail Karting Track

2 February 2024

• Day 2 stages at Waab Al Mashrab, Al Waab, Umm Birka

3 February 2024

• 6:30 pm - Post-rally press conference at Lusail Plaza Towers
• 7 pm - Prize giving ceremony at Lusail Plaza Towers

2024 Qatar International Rally – updated entry list:

1. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Giovanni Bernacchini (POL) Volkswagen Polo GTI
2. Pierre-Louis Loubet (FRA)/Loris Pascaud (FRA) Škoda Fabia RS
3. Abdullah Al-Rawahi (OMN)/Ata Al-Hmoud (JOR) Škoda Fabia Evo
4. Mads Østberg (NOR)/Patrik Barth (SWE) Škoda Fabia RS
5. Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari (QAT)/James Fulton (IRL) Volkswagen Polo GTI
6. Mārtiņš Sesks (LVA)/Renārs Francis (LVA) Škoda Fabia RS
7. Khalid Al-Suwaidi (QAT)/Ross Whittock (GBR) Volkswagen Polo GTI
8. Nasser Khalifa Al-Atya (QAT)/Ziad Chehab (LEB) Ford Fiesta Mk II
9. Shaker Jweihan (JOR)/Mustafa Juma (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
10. Jassim Al-Muqahwi (KWT)/Thamer Al-Mutairi (KWT) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
11. Husam Salim (JOR)/Nancy Al-Majali (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
12. Ahmad Khaled (LEB)/Samer Sfeir (LEB) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
13. Issa Abu Jamous (JOR)/Saqer Abu Jamous (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
14. Rashid Al-Muhannadi (QAT)/Taha Al-Zadjali (OMN) Subaru WRX-STI
15. Saneem Payyaakkal (ARE)/Musa Sherif (IND) Ford Fiesta Rally 4
16. Zakariya Al-Aamri (OMN)/Mohammed Al-Mazroui (OMN) Subaru WRX-STI
17. Shadi Shaban (JOR)/Samer Issa (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
18. Ihab Al-Shurafa (JOR)/Yousef Juma (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
19. Mohammed Al-Atteya (QAT)/Savvas Laos (CYP) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
20. Fabid Ahmer (IND)/Milen George (IND) Subaru WRX-STI
21. Khalid Al-Muhannadi (QAT)/Mohammed Innab (SAU) Polaris RZR Pro XP (T4)
22. Stefano Marrini (ITA)/Stefano Tiraboschi (ITA) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T4)
23. Filippo Epis (ITA)/Gabriele Zanni (ITA) Yamaha YXZ 1000R (T4)

Source and cover image credit: Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation