NEWSLETTER
Click Here to subscribe to Losail International Circuit newsletters.
WEATHER
Click here to know about weather in Doha, Qatar.
Qatar to benefit from FIA sport development plan in Gulf region
Federation Internationale de I'Automobile President Jean Todt assured that Qatar would be more involved in activities under the umbrella of the FIA.
"Qatar is a dynamic country at all levels and it is pleasure to be here again. I've taken this special trip to say my thanks to all those who helped me in the FIA election," said the 63-year-old French while addressing a press conference at the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation headquarters here on Sunday.
This is the first time that the Todt is paying a visit to Qatar and the Gulf region which helped him become the FIA president.
"Qatar is playing a key role in the development of the motor sport in this region in which we have two F1 races in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi. Qatari is already organising the MotoGP race and other activities, under QMMF President Nasser bin Khalifa al Attiya. It has upgraded its infrastructure to be ready for future partnerships with the FIA
"The Formula One racing is however not the sole activity that the FIA has under its umbrella. There are many other interesting events like WTCC (World Touring Car Championship), WRC (World Rally Championship), GT1 racing series, cross country rallies," continued Todt.
"The Formula One race is given to a country only after promoters and the Formula One management give their green signal. As the FIA president, I'd try to do my best to help Qatar. In future, there will certainly be activities to make the relationship between the FIA and the QMMF stronger," assured Todt, without specifying what Qatar is capable of hosting in future.
QMMF President al Attiya accepted that Qatar, having full backing from the Emir His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani and the Heir Apparent HH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, is nurturing Formula One racing dreams. "We have upgraded our infrastructure at the Losail Circuit and soon a member of the FIA Safety Commission would visit here to examine the circuit."
Charlie Whiting, a member of the FIA Safety Commission, is scheduled to come here in the third week of March. "We've prepared the track for the license of hosting the Formula One teams testing. Whatever modifications, if any, Whiting would tell us to carry out for the homologation, we'd do and make ourselves ready for Formula One-related actvitities," added al Attiya.
Todt also lauded the QMMF's initiative for the road safety. "The QMMF is doing a good job and this is a major concern for us too. Every year, more than 1.3 million people are killed in road accidents. The FIA has signed a Decade of Action with the United Nations and hope to save millions of live in future."
Also present during the press conference was Sheikh Abdulla Bin Isa Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Motor Federation, which will host the season-opening Formula One race in Manama on March 14. He said that the Gulf region has members in six various commissions of the FIA and "it is high time that we are also involved in decision making."
Sheikh Abdulla also denied that the F1 circuits are like white elephants. "It is wrong to say that the F1 circuits are like white elephants. Last year, we conducted about 512 private and official events. The only thing is that the media needs to highlight the events properly."
QMMF, 8th March 2010
"Qatar is a dynamic country at all levels and it is pleasure to be here again. I've taken this special trip to say my thanks to all those who helped me in the FIA election," said the 63-year-old French while addressing a press conference at the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation headquarters here on Sunday.
This is the first time that the Todt is paying a visit to Qatar and the Gulf region which helped him become the FIA president.
"Qatar is playing a key role in the development of the motor sport in this region in which we have two F1 races in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi. Qatari is already organising the MotoGP race and other activities, under QMMF President Nasser bin Khalifa al Attiya. It has upgraded its infrastructure to be ready for future partnerships with the FIA
"The Formula One racing is however not the sole activity that the FIA has under its umbrella. There are many other interesting events like WTCC (World Touring Car Championship), WRC (World Rally Championship), GT1 racing series, cross country rallies," continued Todt.
"The Formula One race is given to a country only after promoters and the Formula One management give their green signal. As the FIA president, I'd try to do my best to help Qatar. In future, there will certainly be activities to make the relationship between the FIA and the QMMF stronger," assured Todt, without specifying what Qatar is capable of hosting in future.
QMMF President al Attiya accepted that Qatar, having full backing from the Emir His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani and the Heir Apparent HH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, is nurturing Formula One racing dreams. "We have upgraded our infrastructure at the Losail Circuit and soon a member of the FIA Safety Commission would visit here to examine the circuit."
Charlie Whiting, a member of the FIA Safety Commission, is scheduled to come here in the third week of March. "We've prepared the track for the license of hosting the Formula One teams testing. Whatever modifications, if any, Whiting would tell us to carry out for the homologation, we'd do and make ourselves ready for Formula One-related actvitities," added al Attiya.
Todt also lauded the QMMF's initiative for the road safety. "The QMMF is doing a good job and this is a major concern for us too. Every year, more than 1.3 million people are killed in road accidents. The FIA has signed a Decade of Action with the United Nations and hope to save millions of live in future."
Also present during the press conference was Sheikh Abdulla Bin Isa Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Motor Federation, which will host the season-opening Formula One race in Manama on March 14. He said that the Gulf region has members in six various commissions of the FIA and "it is high time that we are also involved in decision making."
Sheikh Abdulla also denied that the F1 circuits are like white elephants. "It is wrong to say that the F1 circuits are like white elephants. Last year, we conducted about 512 private and official events. The only thing is that the media needs to highlight the events properly."
QMMF, 8th March 2010
