Le Mans, France: Team Qatar is preparing to make history with its debut appearance in the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans, one of the world’s most prestigious and challenging endurance racing events, held at the renowned Circuit de la Sarthe in France.
The team’s driver lineup features Qatari racer Abdullah Al Khulaifi alongside Julien Hanses and Giuliano Alesi. Competing in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 entered in partnership with Iron Lynx, Team Qatar will start from 12th position on the grid in the LMGT3 category.
The participation represents a landmark moment for Qatari motorsport, as Team Qatar takes on some of the world’s leading manufacturers and elite endurance racing drivers in one of the sport’s most demanding competitions. The entry reflects the ongoing efforts of the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation to develop national talent and expand Qatar’s presence on the international motorsport stage.
Team Qatar has already demonstrated strong potential during race week. The team secured an impressive fourth-place finish in the opening free practice session, signaling its ability to compete with experienced rivals in the highly competitive LMGT3 field.
Abdullah Al Khulaifi further enhanced the team’s credentials by guiding the car into the Hyperpole 1 qualifying session. The team narrowly missed advancing to Hyperpole 2 by just 0.072 seconds, a performance that underscored its competitiveness in its first-ever Le Mans campaign.
Al Khulaifi described reaching the Hyperpole session as a significant achievement for Team Qatar in its maiden appearance at Le Mans, expressing satisfaction with the pace and performance shown during qualifying.
A total of 183 drivers are participating in this year’s edition of the legendary endurance race, representing some of the strongest teams and manufacturers in world motorsport.
Ahead of the race, Team Qatar’s drivers joined competitors from across the field in the traditional Le Mans Drivers’ Parade through the city, a celebrated event that allows fans to welcome participants before the start of the 24-hour contest.
As Team Qatar prepares to take the green flag at Le Mans for the first time, the team’s participation stands as a landmark achievement for Qatari motorsport and a testament to the country’s growing presence in international racing.
