Al Maha Island will host the start and finish ceremonies of this weekend’s Qatar International Rally, round two of the 2023 FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC).
Al Maha Island Lusail is a major entertainment and dining destination, home to Lusail Winter Wonderland, Nammos Beach Club and award-winning restaurants.
Located across from Lusail Marina Promenade, the island is easily reached by car, 30 minutes from Hamad International Airport and a five-minute walk from the Esplanade Station of the Lusail Tram. It also offers Al Maha Drive, an exclusive driving experience for supercars and classic cars with special benefits for members.
Opened in November 2022, the destination is expected to play an important role in Qatar’s tourism and hospitality sectors, attracting more than 1.5 million visitors a year.
We are proud and excited that the Qatar International Rally will start and finish from Al-Maha Island, Qatar’s new, iconic and world-class tourist venue. It will provide the perfect backdrop for the start of the event and the finish celebrations on Saturday evening.
Amro Al-Hamad, Executive Director of the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF)
We are excited to host the start and finish ceremonies of Qatar International Rally, round two of the 2023 FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC). Al Maha Island is the ultimate entertainment and leisure hotspot, transforming the tourism and hospitality in Qatar to a new level. At Estithmar Holding our mission is to add exceptional value to our customer and our world-class hospitality and entertainment projects will deliver and create a memorable experience for the residents and visitors of Qatar.
Henrik Christiansen, Group CEO of Estithmar Holding
Organised by the QMMF, the three-day gravel rally features 13 timed special stages and 209.69 competitive kilometres from Thursday evening to Saturday afternoon.
Rally headquarters, the service park and pre-event administration and scrutineering will be based near the QMMF offices at Lusail Sports Arena, while Al-Maha Island will also host the pre- and post-event press conferences on the start and finish podiums on Thursday and Saturday evenings from 18.30hrs.
Competitors from 13 nations will carry out reconnaissance of the stages before scrutineering at Lusail on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.
Championship picture
Last month Abdullah Al-Rawahi won the opening round in his native Oman for the second year running. He and Jordanian co-driver Ata Al-Hmoud lead the Drivers’ and Co-drivers’ standings by six points from local favourite and defending champion Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah and navigator Mathieu Baumel.
Former FIA MERC2 champion Meshari Al-Thefiri has returned to the category to try to regain his title. The Kuwaiti made the perfect start in Oman with third overall, the MERC2 win and a six-point lead over Jordan’s Shaker Jweihan.