Team Qatar will compete for the first time in the Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race on June 11-12, 2026, at the Circuit de la Sarthe in France. The team will enter the LMGT3 class with a Mercedes-AMG car, partnered with Italy-based Iron Lynx to field their entry [1, 2].
The Qatari driving lineup includes Abdulla Al-Khelaifi, German driver Julian Hanses, and Giuliano Alesi, who is the son of former Formula One racer Jean Alesi. Alongside the drivers, Team Qatar also includes a Qatari engineer as part of its effort to cultivate local motorsport talent [1, 2].
The LMGT3 class is the largest category in the 94th running of the Le Mans race, featuring 25 entries, 75 drivers, and a 62-car starting grid overall [1, 2]. Qatar, traditionally stronger in rally and single-seater racing, has limited experience in circuit racing. Abdulrahman bin Abdullatif Al Mannai, president of the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation, said, "When you think of motorsport in Qatar, it is rallies. We have a lot less experience when it comes to circuit racing. And this is what we are trying to do." [1]
Al Mannai explained the federation's vision: "The vision for us...is to have Qatari drivers competing at the highest level of motorsports, whether it's Le Mans or even Formula One." He added, "First of all you need to create excitement, you want people to be excited about this new prospect, and then we start recruiting people, developing them and taking them to these international events." [1]
Qatar has a strong presence in global motorsport, hosting rounds of MotoGP, Formula One, and the World Endurance Championship. The country also owns a stake in Audi's F1 team through the Qatar Investment Authority and is home to Dakar Rally champion Nasser Al-Attiyah [1, 2].
Team Qatar's debut at Le Mans represents a step toward expanding their footprint in circuit racing. The team will contest the 24-hour endurance race for the first time during the event weekend from June 11 to 12, 2026, at Circuit de la Sarthe [1, 2].