Lusail International Circuit

(Redirected from Losail)

The Lusail International Circuit (Arabic: حلبة لوسيل الدولية, sometimes rendered Losail International Circuit) is a motor racing circuit located just outside the city of Lusail, north of Doha, Qatar. The track is 5.419 km (3.367 mi) in length, with a main straight of 1.068 km (0.664 mi). It is surrounded by artificial grass intended to stop the sand encroaching on the track.

Lusail International Circuit
Grand Prix Circuit (2023–present)
LocationLusail, Al Daayen, Qatar
Time zoneUTC+03:00
Coordinates25°29′24″N 51°27′15″E / 25.49000°N 51.45417°E / 25.49000; 51.45417
Capacity52,000
FIA Grade1
Broke ground2003
Opened30 September 2004; 20 years ago (2004-09-30)
Construction costUS$58 million
Major eventsCurrent:
Formula One
Qatar Grand Prix (2021, 2023–present)
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix
(2004–present)
Doha motorcycle Grand Prix (2021)
FIA World Endurance Championship
Qatar 1812 km (2024)
Former:
World SBK
(2005–2009, 2014–2019)
WTCC Race of Qatar
(2015–2017)
Motocross World Championship (2013–2017)
FIM EWC 8 Hours of Doha
(2007–2012)
GP2 Asia (2009)
Websitehttps://www.circuitlosail.com/
Grand Prix Circuit (2023–present)
Length5.419 km (3.367 miles)
Turns16
Race lap record1:22.384 (United Kingdom Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, 2024, F1)
Short Circuit (2023–present)
Length3.701 km (2.300 miles)
Turns11
Club Circuit (2023–present)
Length2.446 km (1.520 miles)
Turns12
Original Grand Prix Circuit (2004–2022)
Length5.380 km (3.343 miles)
Turns16
Race lap record1:23.196 (Netherlands Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, 2021, F1)
2016 FIA WTCC Race of Qatar
View from the grandstand

History

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Built in just under a year by 1,000 workers at the cost of US$58 million, the track opened in 2004 and hosted the inaugural Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix in the same year, won by Sete Gibernau.[1] In 2007, Lusail added permanent outdoor lighting for night races. At the time, the lighting of the Lusail Circuit by Musco Lighting was the largest permanent venue sports lighting project in the world, a distinction that now belongs to another Persian Gulf motorsport venue, Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. The first night race in MotoGP history was the 2008 Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix in March 2008.[citation needed]

In February 2009, a GP2 Asia Series nighttime race took place. The World SBK visited Lusail in 2005–2009 and 2014–2019; and the WTCC visited there in 2015–2017.[citation needed]

The circuit hosted the 20th race of the 2021 Formula One season, the inaugural edition of the Qatar Grand Prix.[2] Before the second edition of the Grand Prix,[3] the circuit was renovated, the facilities upgraded, and the capacity was increased from 8,000 to 52,000.[4]

Beginning in 2024, the FIA World Endurance Championship is set to host its season opener at Lusail, the Qatar 1812 km, in addition to the Prologue, the championship's pre-season testing sessions.[5]

Layout history

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Events

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Current

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Former

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Lap records

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The official lap record for the current circuit layout is 1:22.384, set by Lando Norris driving for McLaren in the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix. As of December 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the Lusail International Circuit are listed as:

Category Time Driver Vehicle Event
Grand Prix Circuit: 5.419 km (2023–present)
Formula One 1:22.384[6] Lando Norris McLaren MCL38 2024 Qatar Grand Prix
FIA F2 1:37.997[7] Oliver Bearman Dallara F2 2024 2024 Lusail Formula 2 round
LMDh 1:39.748[8] Matt Campbell Porsche 963 2024 Qatar 1812 km
LMH 1:41.441[8] Jean-Éric Vergne Peugeot 9X8 2024 Qatar 1812 km
MotoGP 1:52.657[9] Pedro Acosta KTM RC16 2024 Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix
GT3 1:53.529[8] Alessio Rovera Ferrari 296 GT3 2024 Qatar 1812 km
Formula 4 1:54.996[10] Doriane Pin Tatuus F4-T421 2024 Lusail F1 Academy round
Moto2 1:57.366 Sam Lowes Kalex Moto2 2023 Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix
Porsche Carrera Cup 1:59.347[11] Janne Stiak Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup 2024 Lusail Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East round
Moto3 2:03.135 Tatsuki Suzuki Husqvarna FR250GP 2024 Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix
Group 5 2:04.087[12] Kyle Tilley Chevron B27S 2024 Lusail Classic Endurance Racing round
Touring car racing 2:19.449[13] Abdulla Ali Alkhelaifi Honda S2000 2024 1st Qatar Touring Car Championship round
Original Grand Prix Circuit: 5.380 km (2004–2022)
Formula One 1:23.196[14] Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing RB16B 2021 Qatar Grand Prix
GP2 Asia 1:38.699[15] Davide Rigon Dallara GP2/05 2009 Qatar GP2 Asia Series round
GP Masters 1:49.116[16] Pierluigi Martini Delta Motorsport GP Masters car 2006 Losail Grand Prix Masters
MotoGP 1:54.338 Enea Bastianini Ducati Desmosedici GP21 2022 Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix
World SBK 1:56.687[17] Jonathan Rea Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR 2019 Lusail World SBK round
Moto2 1:58.711 Thomas Lüthi Kalex Moto2 2019 Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix
250cc 1:59.379 Alex Debón Aprilia RSV 250 2008 Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix
MRF Challenge 1:59.519[18] Toby Sowery Dallara Formulino Pro 2014 Lusail MRF Challenge round
Porsche Carrera Cup 2:00.322[19] Clemens Schmid Porsche 911 (991 I) GT3 Cup 2015 2nd Lusail Porsche GT3 Middle East Championship round
TC1 2:01.628[20] José María López Citroën C-Elysée WTCC 2015 FIA WTCC Race of Qatar
World SSP 2:01.832[21] Kenan Sofuoğlu Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R 2017 Lusail World SSP round
Stock car racing 2:04.508[22] Vitantonio Liuzzi Speedcar V8 2009 Lusail Speedcar Series round
Moto3 2:05.403 Romano Fenati Honda NSF250RW 2019 Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix
125cc 2:05.695 Scott Redding Aprilia RS125R 2008 Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix
Supersport 300 2:13.798[23] Ana Carrasco Kawasaki Ninja 400 2019 Lusail Supersport 300 round
Asia Productions 250 2:24.177[24] Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin Yamaha YZF-R25 2015 Lusail ARRC round
Asia Underbone 130 2:31.934[25] Ferlando Herdian Yamaha T-150 2014 Lusail ARRC round

Racing history

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Since 2008, MotoGP class has run under lights at Losail

Formula One

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Year Winning driver Winning team
2021   Lewis Hamilton   Mercedes
2023   Max Verstappen   Red Bull Racing
2024   Max Verstappen   Red Bull Racing

MotoGP

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Year MotoGP 250cc/Moto2 125cc/Moto3
2004   Sete Gibernau   Sebastián Porto   Jorge Lorenzo
2005   Valentino Rossi   Casey Stoner   Gábor Talmácsi
2006   Valentino Rossi   Jorge Lorenzo   Álvaro Bautista
2007   Casey Stoner   Jorge Lorenzo   Héctor Faubel
2008   Casey Stoner   Mattia Pasini   Sergio Gadea
2009   Casey Stoner   Héctor Barberá   Andrea Iannone
2010   Valentino Rossi   Shoya Tomizawa   Nicolás Terol
2011   Casey Stoner   Stefan Bradl   Nicolás Terol
2012   Jorge Lorenzo   Marc Márquez   Maverick Viñales
2013   Jorge Lorenzo   Pol Espargaró   Luis Salom
2014   Marc Márquez   Esteve Rabat   Jack Miller
2015   Valentino Rossi   Jonas Folger   Alexis Masbou
2016   Jorge Lorenzo   Thomas Lüthi   Niccolò Antonelli
2017   Maverick Viñales   Franco Morbidelli   Joan Mir
2018   Andrea Dovizioso   Francesco Bagnaia   Jorge Martín
2019   Andrea Dovizioso   Lorenzo Baldassarri   Kaito Toba
2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns   Tetsuta Nagashima   Albert Arenas
2021 Qatar   Maverick Viñales   Sam Lowes   Jaume Masiá
2021 Doha   Fabio Quartararo   Sam Lowes   Pedro Acosta
2022   Enea Bastianini   Celestino Vietti   Andrea Migno
2023   Fabio Di Giannantonio   Fermín Aldeguer   Jaume Masià
2024   Francesco Bagnaia   Alonso López   David Alonso

FIA World Endurance Championship

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Year Hypercar Winners LMGT3 Winners
2024   No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport   No. 92 Manthey PureRxcing
  Kévin Estre
  André Lotterer
  Laurens Vanthoor
  Alex Malykhin
  Joel Sturm
  Klaus Bachler

Superbike World Championship

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Year Race Winning rider Winning team
2005 Race 1   Troy Corser Alstare Suzuki
Race 2   Yukio Kagayama Alstare Suzuki
2006 Race 1   James Toseland Winston Ten Kate Honda
Race 2   Troy Corser Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra
2007 Race 1   Max Biaggi Alstare Suzuki
Race 2   James Toseland Ten Kate Honda
2008 Race 1   Troy Bayliss Ducati Xerox Team
Race 2   Fonsi Nieto Team Alstare Suzuki
2009 Race 1   Ben Spies Yamaha WSB
Race 2   Ben Spies Yamaha WSB
2014 Race 1   Sylvain Guintoli Aprilia Racing Team
Race 2   Sylvain Guintoli Aprilia Racing Team
2015 Race 1   Jordi Torres Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils
Race 2   Leon Haslam Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils
2016 Race 1   Chaz Davies Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
Race 2   Chaz Davies Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
2017 Race 1   Jonathan Rea Kawasaki Racing Team
Race 2   Jonathan Rea Kawasaki Racing Team
2018 Race 1   Jonathan Rea Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK
Race 2 Race cancelled
2019 Race 1   Jonathan Rea Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK
SR   Jonathan Rea Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK
Race 2   Jonathan Rea Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK
2020 Race cancelled

World Touring Car Championship

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Year Race Winning driver Winning team
2015 Race 1   José María López   Citroën Total WTCC
Race 2   Yvan Muller   Citroën Total WTCC
2016 Race 1   Gabriele Tarquini   Lada Sport Rosneft
Race 2   Mehdi Bennani   Sébastien Loeb Racing
2017 Race 1   Tom Chilton   Sébastien Loeb Racing
Race 2   Esteban Guerrieri   Honda Racing Team JAS

FIM Endurance World Championship

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Year Manufactor Winning team Winning riders
2007   Suzuki   Suzuki Endurance Racing Team [fr]   Vincent Philippe [fr]
  Matthieu Lagrive
2008   Yamaha   Yamaha Austria Racing Team   Igor Jerman [de]
  Steve Martin
  Steve Plater
2009   Yamaha   Yamaha Austria Racing Team   Igor Jerman [de]
  Steve Martin
  Gwen Giabbani [fr]
2010   Suzuki   Suzuki Endurance Racing Team [fr]   Vincent Philippe [fr]
  Sylvain Guintoli
  Freddy Foray [fr]
2011   Yamaha   GMT94 [fr]   David Checa
  Kenny Foray
  Matthieu Lagrive
2012   BMW   BMW Motorrad France Thevent   Sebastien Gimbert
  Damian Cudlin
  Erwan Nigon [es]

Motocross World Championship

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Year Race MX1 MX2
2013 Race 1   Clément Desalle   Jeffrey Herlings
Race 2   Tony Cairoli   Jeffrey Herlings
Year Race MXGP MX2
2014 Race 1   Maximilian Nagl   Dylan Ferrandis
Race 2   Gautier Paulin   Jeffrey Herlings
2015 Race 1   Maximilian Nagl   Jeffrey Herlings
Race 2   Maximilian Nagl   Jeffrey Herlings WMX
2016 Race 1   Tim Gajser   Jeffrey Herlings   Courtney Duncan
Race 2   Tim Gajser   Jeffrey Herlings   Courtney Duncan
2017 Race 1   Tony Cairoli   Pauls Jonass
Race 2   Tony Cairoli   Pauls Jonass

Speedcar Series

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Year Race Winning driver Winning team
2009 Race 1   Gianni Morbidelli   Palm Beach
Race 2   Vitantonio Liuzzi   Union Properties

GP2 Asia

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Year Race Winning driver Winning team
2009 Race 1   Nico Hülkenberg   ART Grand Prix
Race 2   Sergio Pérez   Barwa International Campos

References

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  1. ^ "Losail International Circuit". RacingCircuits.info. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  2. ^ "F1 to hold first Qatar Grand Prix at Losail this November". Motor Sport Magazine. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2023".
  4. ^ Horton, Phillip (30 May 2023). "Qatar GP organisers reveal Lusail renovations". motorsportweek.com. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  5. ^ Tribune, Qatar (11 June 2023). "'Qatar 1812' unveiled as name for 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship race". Qatar Tribune. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  6. ^ "Qatar Grand Prix 2024". Formula1.com. 1 December 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  7. ^ "2024 F2 Lusail Feature Race 2 Statistics". 1 December 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  8. ^ a b c "FIA WEC 2024 - Qatar 1812 KM - Race - Final Classification by Driver Fastest Lap" (PDF). FIA. 3 March 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  9. ^ "All-Time MotoGP Records | Fastest Laps, Champions, and Milestones". The Official Home of MotoGP. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  10. ^ "2024 F1 Academy Qatar Race 1 Statistics". 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  11. ^ "Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2024 - Lusail - Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East - Race 1 Final Classification after 6 Laps - 32.242 km" (PDF). 30 November 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  12. ^ "2024 Classic Endurance Racing - Qatar 1812 KM - Race (1 Hour 1 Minute 2 Seconds) - Final Classification" (PDF). FIA. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  13. ^ "2024 Qatar Touring Car Championship - Qatar 1812 KM - Race 2 10 Laps / Max. 35 Minutes) - Final Classification" (PDF). FIA. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  14. ^ "Qatar Grand Prix 2021". Formula1.com. 21 November 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  15. ^ "Lusail International Circuit, Qatar 2009 – GP2 Asia results". autoevolution.com. 13 February 2009. Archived from the original on 16 September 2011.
  16. ^ "2006 Losail Grand Prix Masters". Motor Sport Magazine. 29 April 2006. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  17. ^ "World Superbike - Motul Qatar Round, 24-26 October 2019 - Results Tissot Superpole Race" (PDF). World Superbike. Dorna. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  18. ^ "Qatar Superbike1-QCH1-MRF Challenge - 17th Friday October - QSBK-1 QCH-1-MRF Challenge – MRF Challenge Race-2". 17 October 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  19. ^ "QCH R5-Porsche G3 CUP-Radical Car - Feb.6,2015 - QCH4-GT3 Cup-Radical Car – GT3 Cup Race 2". 6 February 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  20. ^ "WTCC 2015 » Losail International Circuit Round 23 Results". 27 November 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  21. ^ "World Supersport – Qatar Round, 2-3-4 November 2017 - Results Race" (PDF). World Superbike. Dorna. 4 November 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  22. ^ "2009 Losail Speedcar – Round 5". Motor Sport Magazine. 13 February 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  23. ^ "World SSP - Motul Qatar Round, 24-26 October 2019 - Race Results" (PDF). World Superbike. Dorna. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  24. ^ "Asia Road Racing Championship - Saturday 3rd October 2015 - Asian Production 250 CC - Race 2 - Race (9 Laps) started at 21:30:53". 3 October 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  25. ^ "2014 Asia Road Racing Championship Round 6 - Losail International Circuit, Qatar - December 14, 2014 - Underbone 130cc - Race 1" (PDF). 14 December 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
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