The Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) has announced that the 2023 Qatar International Baja will take place on March 15-18
This season the 2023 Qatar International Baja will be a counting round of both the FIA World and Middle East Cups for Cross-Country Bajas and round two of the FIM Bajas World Cup.
The Baja will be based close to the QMMF offices at Lusail Sports Arena. The customary service park will be located nearby and the venue will also host administration checks and technical scrutineering.
Subject to FIA and FIM approval, the event will run over two legs of 251.18k m and 239.43 km. After a prologue stage of 10.02 km, which will take place around 16 km north of the service park close to the Al Bayt Stadium, on Thursday afternoon (March 16th) from 15.00 hrs, FIA competitors will attend the ceremonial start from 20.00 hrs.
They will then tackle two competitive sections of 120.43 km and 120.73 km on Friday, March 17th. FIM competitors will tackle a single selective section; the two FIA stages run in reverse order for a total of 248.19km.
Saturday's single selection section of 239.43 km will be divided into four competitive sections of 34.44 km, 29.03 km, 44.15 km and 125.27 km by transfer zones to complete a total route of 836.14 km, including liaison sections. The podium finish will take place from 19.00 hrs. Final details for the revised FIM event will be released in due course.
The Baja was a counting round of both the FIA Middle East and FIM series for the first time in 2022. Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah and Mathieu Baumel won the car category for the seventh time together in a Toyota Hilux, while young Pole Konrad Dabrowski dominated the motorcycle category and Saudi Arabian rider Abdulmajeed Al Khulaifi topped the quad class.
T3 and T4 success in the FIA event went to WRC star Kris Meeke and local driver Khalifa Saleh al-Attiyah in their respective Can-Ams.
Entries are now open and close on Wednesday, March 1st.
