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The Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) and the Turkish Automobile Sports Federation (TOSFED) formalised a landmark five-year cooperation agreement, marking a significant step forward in the shared ambition of both organisations to elevate motorsport on the international stage.The agreement, signed on Thursday in Turkiye, lays the groundwork for structured knowledge transfer, joint development programmes, and ongoing collaboration across sporting, technical, safety, and sustainability matters.Both QMMF, which serves as the legal and operational entity of Lusail International Circuit (LIC) in Qatar, and TOSFED, the sole recognised national governing body for motorsport in Turkiye recognised by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), bring decades of experience in hosting world-class motorsport events and developing national talent. The agreement signals a commitment to pooling that expertise in a sustained and structured manner.Central to the five-year agreement is a dedicated focus on knowledge sharing, encompassing professional expertise in race operations, safety standards, and sustainable practices. The collaboration also prioritises the development of drivers and officials alongside the coordination of international events. To facilitate these objectives and ensure the partnership yields concrete results for both organizations, a joint committee will be formed to establish a comprehensive agenda and strategic timeline.The agreement also opens the door to collaboration on major international events. Both Qatar and Turkiye have established themselves as premier destinations for elite motorsport championships. **media[459052]**On the occasion of the signing of the partnership agreement, the motorsport leadership from both countries commented on the occasion.“This agreement reflects the kind of partnership that moves our sport forward. Qatar and Turkiye share a deep commitment to motorsport excellence, and by combining our knowledge and experience, we can create lasting value, not just for our own federations, but for the broader motorsport community. We look forward to building something meaningful with TOSFED over the years ahead,” said President of QMMF and the Lusail International Circuit Abdulrahman bin Abdullatif al-Mannai.TOSFED President Eren Uclertopragı said: “Qatar is a country that successfully hosts major global events such as Formula 1, MotoGP, and the World Endurance Championship (WEC). We aim to establish joint official training and exchange programs tailored for these types of high-profile organizations. Additionally, we look forward to developing joint events where Turkish and Qatari athletes can compete together, alongside launching impactful social responsibility projects.”Chief Executive Officer of the Lusail International Circuit Abdulaziz Ali al-Mohannadi said: “Lusail International Circuit has always stood for more than a world-class race weekend. It stands for a vision of what motorsport can achieve when the right people and the right institutions work together. This partnership with TOSFED is an extension of that vision, and we are proud to be building these bridges at an international level.”For his part, Executive Director of the QMMF Amro al-Hamad said: “The cooperation between QMMF and TOSFED opens up real and practical opportunities for both organisations to grow. Through joint programmes, shared expertise, and a genuine exchange of ideas, we can develop motorsport in ways that benefit athletes, officials, and fans alike. This is the kind of collaboration that creates a lasting legacy.”

Al Rayyan Tourism and Investment Company WLL (ARTIC), one of the world’s leading hospitality investment companies and a subsidiary of Al Faisal Holding, announced the rollout of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across its hospitality portfolio in Qatar, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability and responsible tourism development. The initiative, implemented across a number of ARTIC’s hotels and residences, supports the growing adoption of environmentally friendly transportation while enhancing convenience for guests and residents.The charging stations have been installed in collaboration with leading partners “Porche Centre Doha” to ensure efficiency, reliability, and ease of use. This step reflects ARTIC’s broader strategy to integrate sustainable practices into its operations and assets, aligning with global environmental priorities and Qatar’s vision for a greener future. “We are committed to advancing sustainable hospitality by integrating environmentally responsible practices across every aspect of our hotel portfolio, from reducing waste and optimising energy and water consumption to sourcing local products and supporting communities,” said ARTIC’s managing director and chief executive Tarek M El Sayed. “The introduction of electric vehicle charging stations across our portfolio marks an important milestone in our sustainability journey,” he said. “As the sustainable hospitality sector continues to evolve, we remain committed to adopting innovative solutions that reduce environmental impact while enhancing the guest experience.” The initiative underscores ARTIC’s ongoing commitment to embedding sustainability across its operations, while continuing to deliver high-quality hospitality experiences across its portfolio. Most of its hotels have earned Green Key certification, an internationally recognised eco-label that reflects excellence in environmental responsibility and sustainable operations. 

While engineers and technicians worked on final preparations and set-up checks on the rally cars, competing crews carried out their first day of reconnaissance of the challenging gravel special stages for this weekend’s Oman International Rally on Tuesday. The Oman Automobile Association (OAA) has laid on 13 demanding speed tests for the opening round of the 2026 FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) with competitors set to face 215.44 competitive kilometres in a slightly revised route of 661.76km. The event has also moved to a new base at the National University of Science and Technology, which plays host to rally administration and media formalities over the course of the weekend. Competitors will remain at the nearby service park within the confines of the Sohar Entertainment Centre that was used for the first time in 2025. The international field of 17 crews and competitors from 11 nations has been boosted by a bumper national-status event being hosted by the OAA in tandem with the MERC round. An additional 17 teams will compete in the national rally that runs behind the main event. While the newly-crowned, six-time Dakar champion Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah heads the FIA field with his Spanish co-driver Candido Carrera and local two-time champion Abdullah Al-Rawahi wheels out a new Škoda Fabia RS, Salim Al-Touqi leads the local contingent in the Oman National Rally at the wheel of a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII.**media[406845]**The national entry includes five Mitsubishis, a Subaru, seven Can-Am Mavericks, a Kia Rio and a trio of Toyota Yaris machines. Haitham Soomar, Hamood Al-Touqi, Zakariya Al-Ofi and Ghaith Al-Qassmi wheel out the other Mitsubishis and Faisal Al-Rashdi drives the sole Subaru Impreza. Saif Al-Harthy, Hafidh Al-Naamani, Fahad Al-Sulaimani, Emad Al-Balushi, Fahad Al-Balushi, Mohammed Al-Harthy and Ahmed Al-Mamari represent the Can-Am brand. The impressive national list is completed by Musab Al-Zadjali in a Kia and the three Toyotas in the hands of Bashar Hamid Al-Qassmi, Abdullah Al-Touqi and Waheeb Al-Kharusi. The event has invaluable support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Al-Batinah North Governorate and Toyota Oman. The official ceremonial start takes place from 15.15hrs at the Sohar Entertainment Centre on Thursday. With a favourable weather forecast for the Sohar area over the weekend, dry and dusty stage conditions are expected with temperatures reaching the mid-twenties Centigrade. 

South Korea's automobile exports rose 16.8% year-on-year in September, supported by robust overseas demand for eco-friendly vehicles in Europe and Asia, data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy showed on Monday, as cited by Yonhap News Agency. The value of outbound automobile shipments reached $6.41 billion last month — the highest figure for any September on record. In terms of volume, exports rose 11% from a year earlier to 228,000 units.Between January and September, South Korea's accumulated auto exports hit an all-time high of $54.1 billion. By type, exports of eco-friendly cars — including electric, hybrid, and hydrogen-powered vehicles — surged 47.5% year-on-year to 90,496 units, marking the first time monthly exports exceeded 90,000 vehicles and accounting for nearly 40% of total car exports. Among them, hybrid vehicle shipments jumped 55.7% to 57,824 units, while electric vehicle (EV) exports climbed 38.9% to 29,288 units, extending gains for the fourth consecutive month. On the domestic front, auto sales rose 20.8% year-on-year in September to 158,000 units, the highest level since November 2023. EV sales surged 135% to a record monthly high of 28,760 units. For the January-September period, domestic EV sales increased 57.5% to 170,000 units, surpassing last year's total of 142,000. The data also showed domestic automobile production climbed 8.9% in September to 334,000 units, aided by a higher number of working days compared with the previous year.

Electric vehicle (EV) sales in South Korea soared nearly 50% year-on-year during the first eight months of 2025, fueled by the introduction of new models.According to data released by the Korea Automobile & Mobility Association, a total of 142,456 EVs were sold between January and August, a sharp increase from 95,988 units during the same period last year.Electric vehicles made up 12.7% of all new car registrations, up from 8.9% a year earlier a rise of 3.8 percentage points.Domestic manufacturers led the charge, with sales of locally produced EVs climbing 48.2% to 86,777 units, accounting for 60.9% of the total EV market.Imported EVs also posted strong growth, with sales jumping 48.6% to 55,679 units. Notably, over 42,000 of those imported vehicles were made in China, underscoring the growing influence of Chinese automakers in the South Korean market.