MENA Karting Championship Nations Cup gets underway in Qatar

Over 150 competitors to take part, representing 16 nations, in fierce competition across six categories

The MENA Karting Championship Nations Cup 2024, 17-21 December, hosted by the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) and taking place at the Lusail International Circuit is now underway.

The ‘Nations Cup’ format gives the opportunity to the competitors taking part to represent their countries and compete for the honour of being named MENA champions. This year, 16 nations will be represented: Qatar, Algeria, Egypt, Bahrain, Turkey, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Syria, Iran, Kuwait, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan, and the UAE.

The 2023 champions included Team Qatar who marked victories in a number of categories, alongside winners from Morocco, UAE, Lebanon, and Oman, ensuring the 2024 championship will be rife with fierce competition and talented racing displays.

Six categories will be represented at the MENA Karting Championship Nations Cup: Micro Max, Mini Max, Junior Max, Senior Max, DD2, and DD2 Masters, alongside the R390 Sprint and R390 Endurance, with opportunities for drivers ranging from 8 years old to over 30.

Founded in 2020 by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, this year marks the second year in a row that the event is hosted by the QMMF and held at the Lusail circuit.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: “It is an honour unlike any other to represent your nation in the sport you love, and I am looking forward to witnessing the talent and competition that these young drivers will bring to the track.

“Now in its fifth year, the MENA Karting Championship Nations Cup, represents the strength of motorsport in this region. We continue to see this unique competition go from strength to strength and the eyes of our sporting world are once again on Qatar.”

Supporting the base of the pyramid is a key pillar of the FIA’s newly launched Vision 2030: Motorsport Strategy, with the FIA devoting €10.3 million to grassroots activities in 2024 across 85 countries. This follows the announcement of the new Global Karting Plan at last week’s World Motor Sport Council that established a clearer and more accessible pathway into and through the FIA Karting system.

The MENA Karting Championship Nations Cups concludes a successful 2024 for Qatar and the Lusail International Circuit following their hosting of the FIA Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix at the start of December and the WEC official prologues and Qatar 1812km in February and March.