QATAR MAKES FIRST-EVER ENTRY AT 24 HOURS OF SPA IN MAJOR STEP FOR GLOBAL MOTORSPORT AMBITION
In a historic milestone for Qatari motorsport, the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation (QMMF), in partnership with seasoned endurance team Saintéloc Racing, made its debut at the 24 Hours of Spa. Running in the Bronze class of the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup, the QMMF by Saintéloc Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II marked Qatar’s first-ever entry in the fabled endurance event held at the legendary 7 km Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium’s Ardennes region.
The 2025 Spa grid featured a record-breaking 76 cars and approximately 280 drivers representing ten major manufacturers. Facing such formidable competition, the Qatari outfit—featuring drivers Ghanim Al-Maadheed, Abdulla Al-Khelaifi, Ibrahim Al‑Abdulghani, and guest driver Julian Hanses—delivered a commendable debut, finishing 14th in class and 46th overall.
Saintéloc Racing, founded in 2004 by Sébastien Chétail in Saint‑Étienne, France, is one of the most respected GT teams in Europe. It has competed at Spa since 2012 and secured victory in 2017 with an Audi R8 LMS, becoming a top-tier competitor in GT3 endurance racing. In 2025, the team also led the opening day of the Spa prologue test, underlining its preparedness for endurance competition.
Prior to Spa, the QMMF by Saintéloc squad enjoyed notable success in regional endurance events, including triumph at the 24 Hours of Dubai in the 992-class Middle East Trophy earlier this year—underscoring their pedigree in endurance racing on international terrain.
This landmark entry at Spa represents more than a debut; it reflects Qatar’s strategic commitment to nurturing world-class motorsport talent. Through the QMMF’s partnership with elite teams like Saintéloc, Qatar continues to build a development pathway—from karting and regional series to endurance icons like Spa and beyond.
With each passing race, Qatar's motorsport aspirations are tangibly unfolding, as evidenced by this historic outing. The nation is rapidly progressing towards its future in the sport, kilometer by kilometer.