HE Director General of the Qatar Racing Club (QRC) Sheikh Jabor bin Khalid Al-Thani affirmed the completion of all preparations for the launch of the 2026 Arabian Drag Racing League on Wednesday, promising an exceptional season.
During a press conference today, His Excellency stated that the Arabian Drag Racing League is the most important event on the club's annual calendar, noting that it presents the club with significant challenges each year in terms of the variety of categories, the intensity of the competition, and attracting a large number of motorsport enthusiasts.
He added that the club has taken several steps to raise the level of competition in this year's edition, explaining that the new season (2025-2026) has been underway since the end of last October and features numerous championships.
The club organizes five major championships each season, each consisting of five or more rounds. It also held three rounds of both the Qatar Drift Championship and the Qatar Drag Racing Championship, while last week it concluded the third round of Qatar Freestyle Championship. In addition, two rounds of the Sand Drag Racing Championship were held at the club's track in the Sealine area.
He pointed out that the club has reached the most important milestone on the annual events calendar: the 2026 Arabian Drag Racing League.
“Each year, this championship presents us with major challenges in terms of the diversity of categories, the intensity of competition, and attracting the largest possible number of motorsport fans. Our new highlight this year is the return of the Pro Mod category, which will feature elite drivers, led by the 2025 NHRA Championship title holder J.R. Gray, as well as the veteran champion Mike Castellana, who has won the championship title over multiple seasons. Both drivers compete for Qatar's Al Anabi Team and have been racing in the US championship for years.”
“In response to competitors' requests, the Street Bike category has been added, bringing the number of motorcycle categories to two, with the possibility of increasing to three. We have expressed our readiness to add the Pro Bike category, the most powerful class in motorcycle drag racing, should the number of competitors reach six or more.”
He emphasized the club's commitment to providing a suitable environment for all participating teams in the various events, which positively impacts the competitions and contributes to building a strong foundation of young talent capable of enhancing Qatar's achievements on the international stage. This also helps put motorsports in Qatar on the right track, as it is a key pillar in building a cultured and informed society.
Sheikh Jabor affirmed that the Arabian Drag Racing League sits at the top of the club management’s priorities, as it is the largest in terms of participation and the strongest in terms of competition.
“Our current focus is on mobilizing all efforts to ensure the success of the championship and to present it in the best possible image. The main focus will be on the fans by enhancing accompanying activities and events.
We have provided entertainment areas for children as well as dedicated spaces for families,” he said.
He pointed out that work is underway on the technical aspects, such as preparing the track to its optimal condition, thus providing the most important element: a safe environment enhanced with safety measures for both participants and spectators at every event. The club has also made all necessary arrangements in the garage area to accommodate the large number of teams and racers expected to arrive from all the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
“As in previous years, the club will also host - on the sidelines of the championship and specifically in conjunction with its second round - the Qatar Custom Show in its 13th edition.” The Show is a five-day event that attracts a large number of car and motorcycle enthusiasts and sports teams from both inside and outside Qatar, coinciding with the second round of the championship.
The first round of the 2026 Arabian Drag Racing League kicks off tomorrow, with intense competition across various categories at the Qatar Racing Club's drag strip, which has been undergoing weeks of preparation to host this major event, considered the most prestigious in the region.
The Arabian Drag Racing League holds a prominent position among international drag racing championships, having witnessed the participation of legends of the sport from both the Arab world and beyond over the years.
This year's league comprises six consecutive rounds, opening with testing Tuesday, qualifying Wednesday and Thursday, tandem races Friday. It is scheduled to conclude on February 13, when the season's champions will be honored.
With the approval of 10 categories for this year's championship, approximately QR485,000 has been allocated as prize money per round. The strongest category in the championship, Pro Mod, receives the largest share of these prizes: the winner of each round will earn QR50,000, the runner-up QR25,000, and QR12,500 will be awarded to third place.
If the Pro Bike category is approved, the total number of categories will rise to 11, and the total prize value per round will increase to approximately QR530,000. At the conclusion of the six championship rounds, the leaders of the overall standings in each category will receive a commemorative shield for the season championship in addition to a valuable cash prize, bringing the total prize pool of the championship to approximately QR3.5m.