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In front of a large crowd that filled the stands of Qatar Racing Club’s (QRC) dedicated drift arena, the opening round of the 2025–2026 Qatar Drift Championship (QDC) concluded with the participation of an elite group of drivers from across the Gulf region and beyond. The event is being held under the patronage of QRC Chairman HE Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad al-Thani.The competition, which spanned two full days, began with the qualifying sessions on the first day. At the end of the qualifying sessions, driver Ahmed al-Amri topped the standings with a total of 90.33 points, ahead of Salem al-Sarraf, who secured second place with 86.67 points. Defending champion Ali Makhseed settled for third, just four points behind al-Sarraf.According to the results of the qualifying sessions, the drivers were placed into the tandem battle bracket, which took place on Friday and featured fierce matchups full of surprises.On the left side of the bracket, Ahmed al-Amri, the top qualifier, advanced to the second round after defeating his rival Saud al-Attiyah, who had finished last season as runner-up in the National category. Meanwhile, Ahmed Abu Rshaid prevailed over Mesiar Abu Sheibah in an exciting battle. Abdullah al-Muhtasib also advanced after defeating Mubarak al-Dosari, while Mazen Nasser moved on automatically following the withdrawal of Khaled al-Shafie, who was forced to retire due to an accident during Friday’s pre-event tests.On the opposite side of the bracket, Salem al-Sarraf, second in qualifying, overcame Mohammed al-Jaber, while Yasser al-Shatir advanced after defeating Mohammed al-Azmi. The third battle on this side saw Riyadh al-Mabsali beat Bkhait al-Hajri to secure his place in the next round. The final matchup of the first round produced a major upset when Mohammed Khorshid, who had qualified sixth, eliminated defending champion Ali Makhseed, earning the last spot in the quarterfinals.In the second-round, both al-Amri and al-Muhtasib advanced to the first semifinal, with al-Amri defeating Abu Rshaid and al-Muhtasib prevailing over Mazen Nasser. On the other side, Salem al-Sarraf moved into the second semifinal after beating Yasser Al-Shatir, while Riyadh al-Mabsali claimed the final semifinal slot after winning against Mohammed Khorshid.Based on the final results, al-Muhtasib was crowned champion of the National category, with Yasser al-Shatir finishing second, and Ahmed Abu Rshaid taking third place on the podium.The two semifinal battles were breathtaking, showcasing exceptional skill and intensity that kept the crowd on edge. The first semifinal brought together Ahmed al-Amri, the top qualifier and champion of the season before last, with Abdullah al-Muhtasib, who had qualified fourth and was newly crowned winner of the National category in this round. In this duel, al-Amri asserted his dominance to become the first driver to reach the final showdown, where he would face Riyadh al-Mabsali, who earned his spot by defeating Salem al-Sarraf, last season’s overall runner-up, in the second semifinal.Al-Sarraf went on to claim third place after overcoming al-Muhtasib in the third-place battle.All eyes then turned to the grand final between al-Amri and al-Mabsali, where both drivers delivered flawless and highly technical runs that captivated the crowd. However, victory ultimately went to al-Amri.QRC General Manager Sheikh Jabor bin Khalid crowned the podium winners.

Amid high expectations for an exceptional season filled with events and activities, the Qatar Racing Club’s (QRC) 2025-2026 sports season officially kicks off Thursday, with the first round of the Qatar Drift Championship (QDC).The highly-anticipated QRC activities take place under the patronage of its chairman HE Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad al-Thani.The club's newly approved event calendar for the upcoming season features five major championships, covering various motorsport disciplines such as drift, drag race, sand drag race, and freestyle stunt shows, in addition to over 25 testing days spread across the next seven months. The calendar also includes roll race events and dedicated motocross racing days.QRC General Manager HE Sheikh Jabor bin Khalid al-Thani affirmed that the club has completed most of the preparations for the new season.“We were keen to approve the sports calendar for the 2025/2026 season early on to give racers enough time to prepare for the competitions. We are looking forward to an exceptional season by all standards—marked by a diverse range of championships, fierce competition, and strong audience engagement. This aligns with the vision of our club chairman, His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Thani, who always strives to steer motorsports in Qatar in the right direction—technically, organisationally, and athletically,” he said.“Based on this principle, the new season's calendar has received special and exceptional attention, aiming to propel the club forward, advance motorsports, diversify our events, and attract the largest number of competitors. Our goal is to build an informed and educated community, and establish a strong youth base capable of steering Qatar toward more sporting achievements.”“Our ongoing preparations are focused on ensuring what we consider the most important factor: a safe environment, equipped with all necessary safety measures for both participants and spectators. The club consistently welcomes Gulf, Arab, and international teams.Speaking about the sports and community events the club is organising this season, Sheikh Jabor stated: "Qatar Racing Club is well known as the home of drag racing in the Middle East. As in previous years, we will be organising two separate drag racing championships.”“The first is an international-level event—the Arabian Drag Racing League—featuring top racers from around the world. This season, it will consist of six rounds, starting on January 8–9, 2026, and continuing until the final round in mid-February. The second is the Qatar Drag Racing Championship, made up of five rounds, and attracting the best drag racers from across the Middle East. The opening round is scheduled for the second half of November, with the final round taking place in early March 2026."He continued: "As for the Qatar Drift Championship, which kicks off tomorrow, it has consistently drawn participants from Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, Jordan, and even some European competitors. This year’s edition will feature five rounds—three in 2025 and the final two in March and April 2026. We are also organizing the Sand Drag Racing Competition, held at the Sealine Sand Track.”Fans of freestyle drifting can look forward to a four-round championship, similar to last season.In addition to this, the club will also host Roll Racing events, Motocross test days, and various other motorsport activities."Leading these community events is the Qatar Custom Show, which we will host for the 13th time this season, scheduled for January 13–17, 2026.In addition, we’re keen to host gatherings of car owners, motorcycle clubs, and other community-centered events throughout the season," Sheikh Jabor said.