Qatar close to signing agreement on hosting Formula One race

AFP/DohaQatar is close to signing a contract to host a Formula One Grand Prix within the next two years, the president of the country’s motor sport federation has told AFP. Nasser bin Khalifa al-Attiyah, who is also the vice- president of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), said the race would be held in 2016 or 2017, adding to the growing list of high-profile international sporting events hosted by Qatar. “We are about to sign contracts to organise a Formula One race,” he said. “We have completed all the steps and there are only a few details before the official signature.” Al-Attiyah added that Qatar would offer the choice of two circuits on which to race, either in Lusail which has already hosted Moto GP and World Superbike events, or a specially-designed street course through the capital Doha. Qatar has won the right to host the 2022 World Cup and has also been recently awarded the 2019 World Athletics Championships. Qatar is expected to make a bid at some point to host a Summer Olympics.