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Qatar is making plans to join the Gulf's Formula One party by staging its own grand prix alongside the existing action in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi.
The driving force behind the plan is the Qatar Motor and Motorcycling Federation's president Nasser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah.
The dream of making the Gulf a three-stage pitstop for the stars of Formula One comes as Qatar upgrades its Losail International Circuit, which was originally designed to host international motorcycle competitions.
Al Attiyah told GulfWeekly: "Hosting a Formula One race is definitely in the strategic plan for Qatar. We have a great track and we are currently working on upgrading it to official specifications.
"We have already covered the standard requirements and we are three quarters through the project. We just have some minor changes and modifications to make.
"We have already upgraded areas such as the run-offs on the track and want to be recognised as an F1 Grade A circuit with testing capabilities."
The unknown equation is whether another F1 circuit would help the sport expand its reach in the Middle East or dilute the pulling-power of the existing hosts, particularly during a global recession which is making even the die-hard followers of the sport think carefully about which races they can afford to attend.
Currently the Bahrain and Abu Dhabi stages are at opposite ends of the season, limiting the opportunity of any joint marketing strategy.
Al Attiyah added that an official of the FŽdŽration Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) Formula One's governing body, had already inspected the circuit facilities just outside Doha and was 'impressed' with the work that had been carried out so far.
The track opened in 2004 and in 2007 permanent outdoor lighting for night races was installed. In February 2009, a GP2 Asia Series night-time race was staged.
Once work has been completed, licenses granted and the Qatari royal family has given its blessing for thousands of race fans to flock into the emirate, Al Attiyah will make his case to F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone to be included on the list of host countries.
"We already have F1 teams contacting us about testing at our circuit which is why we are waiting for the appropriate licence," he added. "We want to be a part of the F1 market here in the Gulf. Motor sport is big in the Middle East and we want to share in that pride alongside Bahrain and Abu Dhabi.
"Once our bid is made we will require the advice and support of our neighbours. We want to develop a motor sport culture within Qatar and the region.
"Hosting F1 is not about prestige it's about the enjoyment of the sport and it has developed such a large fan base here. Let's give the public what they want."
A spokesman for Ecclestone told GulfWeekly that his office awaits details of the proposal.
Qatar is already building links with F1 with the launch of a multi-million dollar project that aims to bring cutting-edge racing technology to the mainstream mass-transit transport industry.
F1 stalwart Frank Williams said his firm had set up the Williams Technology Centre together with the Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) where it would develop environmentally beneficial technologies inspired by F1.
But the big prize would be staging a race. It is a move that has paid off for Bahrain - raising its profile on the world stage significantly and bringing huge commercial and tourism spin-offs.
This year Bahrain staged the very first race of the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship's 60th anniversary season. An all-action weekend of racing in March was enjoyed by a bumper crowd of 100,000 with 19,700 on the Friday, 36,900 on the Saturday and 43,400 on the Sunday, F1 race day.
Fernando Alonso celebrated a triumphant Ferrari debut with a win. "It was a very special day for me," said Alonso, savouring his third victory in Bahrain, the first driver to complete a hat-trick of wins at the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, one more than his Brazilian team-mate Felipe Massa, who came in second.
Bahrain's favourite race team McLaren, partly-owned by the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, took the final podium spot with former F1 champion Lewis Hamilton coming in third.
The season will end for a second consecutive year with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November at the Yas Marina Circuit.
In Bahrain, preparations are already in hand for hosting an eighth grand prix. The Bahrain International Circuit will be returning to its original track layout in preparation for next year's season. The use of an extended 'endurance track' this year was introduced as part of the celebrations to mark the diamond jubilee of the racing series.
