Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (3rd November)- The Saudi Motorsport Company is delighted to announce the launch of ticket sales for the Saudi Arabian debut of the FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR). The exhilarating championship will culminate with a series of night races at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on the weekend of 26th – 27th November and marks the first official international touring car race to ever take place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Motorsport Company, the promoter of the event, has devised a shortened homologated FIA Grade 3 track within the existing Jeddah Corniche Circuit complex that will allow for some thrilling racing action. The exciting, alternative 3.45-kilometre track is a shortened variant of the main track that has been home to the Formula 1 stc Saudi Arabian Grand Prix since 2021. With a shortcut beginning at Turn 4, the new layout has been tailor-made for bumper-to-bumper, doorhandle-to-doorhandle racing whilst underlining the Jeddah Corniche Circuit’s status as the world’s fastest street circuit. The FIA WTCR 2022 will be the first racing series to put wheels to track on this exciting development in a flood-lit night race on the Red Sea coast.
The track action will be heaving all weekend, providing brilliant entertainment for all in attendance. The WTCR activity will be made up of three practice sessions, one three-stage knockout qualifying session and two races, the first being 30 minutes + 1 lap and the second being 25 minutes + 1 lap. Currently, the championship is tight with Spaniard Mikel Azcona (BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse), leading with 241 points, followed by Nestor Girolami (All-Inkl.com Muennich Motorsport) with 205 points and British driver, Robert Huff (Zengö Motorsport) finishing the top three with 187 points. With the championship wide open, fans can expect a nailbiter right through the weekend.
As an added bonus for Saudi racing fans the WTCR competitor line-up at the JCC will be joined by the talented leading Saudi racer Ahmed Bin Khanen. Ahmed has been offered a Wild-Card entry to the racing weekend. Having one of Saudi’s leading racing drivers taking part is a real bonus for race fans and is the first time that a Saudi has driven in the FIA World Touring Car Championship.
It won’t be just WTCR on track as fans will also get to experience the Saudi Supercar Club powered by Petromin offering real variety for fans. The Saudi Supercar Club Powered by Petromin is quite simply the most exclusive car club in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Members can share their passion for motorsport and enjoy once in a lifetime driving experiences on track in some of the world’s most incredible cars. From Formula 1 to WTCR, the Supercar Club is an integral part of the support race programme for all motorsport activity held at its home, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
In addition to the exhilarating on-track action, fans will be treated to a weekend of amazing entertainment in the circuit’s Fanzone, where friends and family can enjoy live music, great food, and plenty of fun activities to ensure a memorable weekend for all. A Pit Lane walk, as part of the ticket price, will take place for all spectators on Saturday and Sunday. The weekend will also witness the circuit being open to cars belonging to Adrenaline Rush Club members, while Jeddah’s cycling enthusiasts will have the unique opportunity of being “on-track” as part of the weekend’s community entertainment.
HRH Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Abdullah Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and the Saudi Motorsport Company commented: We are excited to welcome the FIA World Touring Car Championship to Saudi Arabia and look forward to seeing these fantastic cars be the first to take on our newly homologated short circuit layout at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. This event brings international touring cars to Saudi Arabia for the first time and joins Formula 1, Formula E, Dakar Rally & Extreme E in the increasing portfolio of globally renowned motorsport events taking place in the Kingdom. I am particularly excited to see Ahmed Bin Khanen making his debut in the WTCR as a wild-card entry. This is a unique opportunity for us all to see a Saudi driver mixing it with the world’s best. Make sure to get your tickets now and join us for another brilliant weekend of premium racing here in Jeddah.”
Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased at https://tickets.
The ticket prices is just 50 SAR for the full weekend. Entry for children under the age of 10 years of age is free.
For Media Enquiries:
- SMC Contact: media@saudimotorsport.com
- SMG Contact: press@thesmg.com
- SMG MENA: mena@thesmg.com
Additional information:
About SMC
SMC is the dedicated commercial entity established to bring the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s motorsport events under a single umbrella and is the first body in Saudi Arabia dedicated to commercializing motorsport at a national level.
SMC acts as the local promoter for KSA’s growing motorsports events portfolio which currently includes the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the Formula E Diriyah ePrix, the world-renowned Dakar Rally as well as an annual round of the ground-breaking Extreme E series.
These recurring major motorsports events are delivering directly against the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 with each committed to long-term deals that have helped Saudi Arabia to develop an unrivalled portfolio that is not replicated anywhere else in the world.
About WTCR
The WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup is the pinnacle of customer touring car racing and sits at the top of the TCR category ladder. Evolving from the FIA World Touring Car Championship, the WTCR is administered by the FIA and promoted by Discovery Sports Events.
Two practice sessions, a three-stage qualifying session featuring two elimination periods, plus two sprint-style races under lights at JCC are timetabled, and all events are broadcast live around the world.
As well as coveted FIA Drivers’ and Teams’ titles, independent racers with no financial backing from a manufacturer are eligible for the WTCR Trophy. Experienced campaigners and young talents aiming for the top compete in turbocharged TCR cars from brands such as Audi, CUPRA, Honda and Hyundai.
A Balance of Performance formula, sustainable biofuel from P1 Racing Fuels and tyres from Goodyear provide a level playing field. Power is capped at 360bhp, speeds reach 260kph.
The Goodyear #FollowTheLeader recognises the driver at the head of the standings after each qualifying session or race. They carry the Goodyear #FollowTheLeader yellow windscreen strip until such time that they no longer top the points classification.
About Petromin Corporation:
Petromin is the leading Saudi company in the advanced lubricants, automotive technology, multi-modal mobility, and sustainable transportation segment, with an unmatched reputation for the highest quality products and services in the industry today. Operating in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, since 1968, it started building its reputation for producing the highest quality lubricants in the region which grew overtime into a large mobility solutions provider to cover the entire automotive journey of the customer. With more than 6000 employees, Petromin exports its products to over 40 countries in the GCC, Middle East, Africa, and Asia, with fast and reliable vehicle maintenance services backed by an extensive network of service centers that provide unparalleled coverage across the region.
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