By Staff Reporter
Le Mans: The 94th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans will mark a major milestone for Qatari motorsport as Team Qatar prepares to compete in the prestigious endurance race for the first time.
Partnering with Iron Lynx, Team Qatar will field a Mercedes-AMG in the competitive LMGT3 class at the iconic Circuit de la Sarthe on June 13-14. The entry, running as No. 62 Team Qatar by Iron Lynx, combines international expertise with Qatari representation in the driver lineup: Giuliano Alesi (son of former Ferrari F1 driver Jean Alesi), German Silver-rated driver Julian Hanses, and Qatar’s own Abdulla Al-Khelaifi.
This debut represents a significant step in the strategic vision of the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) to elevate Qatari motorsport on the global stage while continuing to develop the sport domestically.
The challenge of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans features 62 cars this year, with 14 major manufacturers competing across three classes: Hypercar, LMP2, and LMGT3. Team Qatar will race in LMGT3 — the largest class with 25 entries — which showcases high-performance GT cars from manufacturers including Porsche, Ferrari, Mercedes-AMG, BMW, McLaren, and others. Success at Le Mans demands exceptional consistency, strategic pit stops, traffic management, and driver rotation over the demanding 24-hour race.
Building momentum
Team Qatar’s journey to Le Mans began in 2023 with strong performances in the Middle East Trophy, where they secured the Porsche 992 (Am) Teams’ Championship. The team has since expanded into European endurance racing, achieving notable successes including:
- Victory in the Am class at the 2025 24 Hours of Dubai
- Porsche 992 Teams’ Championship in the 2025 Middle East Trophy
- Class wins in the 6 Hours of Abu Dhabi and 12 Hours of Mugello (2026)
- Strong results at the 12 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps
- Back-to-back LMGT3 pole positions in the opening rounds of the 2026 European Le Mans Series (ELMS), with Abdulla Al-Khelaifi earning Most Valuable Driver honors at Barcelona
These results demonstrate Team Qatar’s rapid progress and growing competitiveness against established international teams.
Qatar’s motorsport ambitions
The Le Mans entry aligns with Qatar’s broader motorsport development strategy. Lusail International Circuit (LIC) has become a global venue, hosting rounds of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), Formula 1, and MotoGP — making it one of only two circuits worldwide to host all three premier championships.
As a point-scoring round of the FIA WEC, the 24 Hours of Le Mans further cements Team Qatar’s ambition to excel at the highest level of endurance racing.
This historic debut not only showcases Qatari talent on the world stage but also highlights the growing influence of Qatar in international motorsport.
