The Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) has launched an exciting feature with the introduction of digital motorsport license cards for the Qatar Online Racing Championship (QORC) participants.
QMMF has organised two series’ of QORC event for cars and bikes and the third series for rally cars is set to begin from this Sunday. The series has grown in popularity as the racers find a way to keep in touch with the sport after the pandemic brought an halt to on field action.
The license cards – approved by the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (the governing body of the international motorcycling) and QMMF – will feature participants name, nationality and date of birth.
QMMF Executive Director, Amro al-Hamad said: “We have officially launched digital motorsport licenses. We are the first ASN (a French acronym to describe a national sporting authority) in the entire Middle East to take this first step towards digital motorsport. The licences are going to be issued to Qatari motorsport fans and residents in Qatar. It’s a system copy of the competition licenses that are issued in the virtual motorsport world.”
He added: “Currently the licences have been issued to participants in the first edition of the Qatar Online Racing Championship in cars. We also issued licenses to entries who took part in the MotoGP races. In the third batch, we will issue licenses to entries who will take part in rallies – for drivers and co-drivers. The licences will only be issued to who are regular entries in our competitions.”
Al-Hamad explained the rationale behind rolling out digital motorsport license cards. “I’ll give you an example on why we are doing this. The aim of the licence is like having a loyalty card at any supermarket chain. Whenever you go there to make a purchase, the attendants ask you if you have a loyalty card. This shows that you are part of a set-up and people,” he said.
“If you don’t have a loyalty card of any supermarket chain, you don’t go there often. If you are a member, then you go there regularly. As I told you, for the first season, the licenses are free but starting next year, it won’t be free because we are building a platform for them to enjoy being part of the group and join elite races,” al-Hamad added.
The Qatar Online Racing Championship for rally cars will be held from June 7. The competition will be held over two weeks. The top six participants in the first round will make it to the second-round races. The World Rally Championship 8, on PlayStation 4 console, will be the tournament’s official game.
Participants will be divided into three groups of seven players each.
The Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation will conduct Qatar Online Racing Championship for rally cars from this Sunday. (QMMF)
