Lusail, Qatar – The Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) has officially launched the updated 2025 Qatar Off-Road Championship (QORC), introducing an enhanced series designed to elevate the excitement and challenge for both participants and fans.
The 2025 QORC will feature six thrilling rounds, with competitors in both the motorcycle and car categories facing off across a mix of Bajas and Survival events. Motorcycles and quads will compete in three Baja and three Survival events, while car entrants will take on three Bajas and three rally stages, ensuring a diverse and action-packed calendar.
The series will kick off with the first Baja round for both motorcycles and cars on February 14-15, 2025, followed by another Baja in April for each category. The series will then continue in the autumn with events taking place in September, October, November, and December.
QORC President Abdulrahman Al-Mannai will oversee the championship, with Amro Al-Hamad managing the event as QMMF’s Executive Director.
“Off-road motorsport is one of the most popular sports in the Middle East, and the QORC continues to grow year after year,” commented Amro Al-Hamad. “Our revamped calendar for 2025, coupled with Qatar’s unique terrain, our substantial prize fund, and an experienced organizing team, will attract even more competitors and international interest.”
New Challenger Category & Event Formats
For the first time, a Challenger category will be introduced for motorcycles. This division is designed for riders who have never won a QORC round, haven’t finished in second place more than twice, or have never been on the podium more than three times. Riders in the Challenger category will accumulate points for both the Challenger standings and the overall classification.
The calendar will feature a combination of Bajas and rallies for car competitors. Vehicles eligible for the Bajas will also be able to compete in the rallies, with specific classes for each category, including FIA T3/T4, National T3/T4, and T1/T2.
Survival events will take place on a short 6-7 km circuit through Qatar’s iconic sand dunes, with Le Mans-style starts and different race formats, including 75-minute races or two 30-minute races. The Bajas will include a selective section ranging between 150-160 km and will test both speed and navigation skills. Meanwhile, rally stages will be short but challenging, with two sections of 20-40 km each.
Prize Fund and Classifications
With a total prize pool exceeding 2 million Qatari riyals, competitors in both the motorcycle and car classes will compete for significant rewards. Motorcycle class winners can expect between 4,000 QAR and 5,000 QAR, with 2,000 QAR to 3,000 QAR for Challenger entrants down to fifth place. For overall QORC winners, each class champion will receive 65,000 QAR, while the Challenger category winner will earn 25,000 QAR.
In the car category, class winners will take home 5,000 QAR, while overall car class winners will earn 70,000 QAR in addition to a guaranteed 10,000 QAR for all classified competitors.
The Baja Trophy and Rally Trophy winners will also receive impressive payouts of 25,000 QAR per class.
2024 Recap and International Participation
Last year, the QORC saw participation from 66 competitors representing 19 countries, who battled through four Bajas and four Survival events, with Mohammed Al-Balooshi emerging as the Class 1 motorcycle champion and Michael Anderson taking the Survival Trophy. The car category also saw intense competition, with Ahmed Al-Kuwari and Nawaf Al-Sowaidi dominating the local scene.
2025 Qatar Off-Road Championship Calendar
Motorcycles / Cars:
- February 14-15: R1 – Baja / R1 – Baja
- April 17-18: R2 – Survival
- April 18-19: R2 – Rally
- September 19-20: R3 – Baja / R3 – Baja
- September 26-27: R4 – Rally
- October 3-4: R4 – Survival
- November 13-14: R5 – Survival
- November 14-15: R5 – Rally
- December 5-6: R6 – Baja / R6 – Baja
For further information about the 2025 Qatar Off-Road Championship (QORC), contact the Qatar Motor and Motor Cycle Federation (QMMF), P.O. Box 8708, Doha, Qatar, Tel: + 974 443 79885, Fax: + 974 443 79732, E-mail: info@qmmf.com.qa andwww.qmmf.com
