The second edition of the Shell Eco-marathon Qatar successfully concluded at the Lusail International Circuit, bringing together student teams to showcase their innovative, energy-efficient vehicles.
Results in the 2026 edition highlighted both the scale and diversity of the competition, with student teams competing across Prototype and Urban Concept categories and multiple energy pathways, including battery-electric, hydrogen fuel cell and internal combustion.
Teams from Indonesia emerged as standout performers, securing top positions across several categories, with multiple vehicles exceeding the 1,000km per litre efficiency milestone. The teams from Qatar put in a valiant effort – pushing the limits of their vehicles on and off the track.
A major highlight of the awards ceremony was the announcement of four winning teams to advance to the 2027 Shell Eco-marathon Global Championship. Returning to Qatar, these teams will compete against the highest-performing student teams from Europe and the Americas, marking the launch of the first truly global championship in the programme’s history.
Rob Maxwell, managing director of Shell Companies Qatar, said: “Shell Eco-marathon Qatar 2026 has been an incredible showcase of ingenuity and determination. The creativity and technical excellence demonstrated by these student teams reflect the bright future of sustainable mobility”.
Shell Eco-marathon Qatar highlighted the technical prowess of the student teams and emphasised the importance of sustainability and innovation in addressing future energy challenges. The event featured workshops, networking opportunities and technical inspections, providing a comprehensive learning experience for all participants.
Dr Alkindi Aljawabra, director of Qatar Auto Museum said: “Shell Eco-marathon is a testament to how design thinking can solve our most pressing global challenges. While we celebrate the technical achievements on the track today, we are equally impressed by the creative spirit these students have shown.
“Through the Qatar Auto Museum, we are proud to champion a generation that views the vehicle not just as a tool for transport, but as a canvas for sustainable innovation. These students and engineers are crafting the next chapter of our global mobility heritage, proving that the future is as much about human imagination as it is about energy efficiency.”
