(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Qatar is close to signing a contract to host a Formula One Grand Prix within the next two years, the president of the country's motor sport federation has said.
Nasser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah, who is also the Vice-President of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), said the race would be held in 2016 or 2017, adding to the growing list of high-profile international sporting events hosted by Qatar.
"We are about to sign contracts to organise a Formula One race," Al Attiyah said. "We have completed all the steps and there are only a few details before the official signature," he added.
Al Attiyah added that Qatar would offer the choice of two circuits on which to race, either in Losail which has already hosted Moto GP and World Superbike events, or a specially-designed street course through the capital Doha.
There have previously been question marks over whether Qatar could host a Grand Prix because it relied on the approval of Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, which already host races.
In December, Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone said Bahrain and Abu Dhabi would not allow Qatar to join the Grand Prix racing circuit. But it now appears any problems have been ironed out.
In September 2004, Qatar hosted the first ever MotoGP leg and then four years later introduced night racing at Losail International Circuit.
Qatar invested an additional $15m to have state-of-the-art floodlight beams erected at Losail Circuit.
Since 2008, Qatar's Losail Circuit has been hosting the opening leg of the MotoGP World Championship under lights.
Qatar is ploughing billions of pounds into sporting events and has won the right to host the 2022 World Cup and was also recently awarded the 2019 World Athletics Championships.
A week ago, Qatar drew unparalleled attention when it successfully staged the Men's World Handball Championship. Last year, Doha staged a leg of the FINA World Championship (short course). In October 2016, Qatar Cycling Federation (QCF) will stage the UCI World Road Championship. Later this year, the Qatar's capital Doha will host the 2015 World Boxing Championships, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) confirmed almost two years ago.
In 2019, Doha will welcome athletes and fans for the IAAF World Athletics Championships, three years before Qatar becomes the first Arab country to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Last year in May, Qatar were awarded the rights to host the 48th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships set to be held in October 2018.
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