Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) has published Rally Guide 1 and released initial details of this year’s Qatar International Baja.
The Lusail-based event takes its place in the calendar on October 28 to 31 and is the penultimate round of both the FIA World and Middle East Baja Cups and round six of the FIM Bajas World Cup.
Known throughout cross-country circles as one of the most challenging Bajas in both the FIA and FIM calendars, this year’s event will be no exception and features several tweaks and improvements on last autumn’s edition. It runs under the chairmanship of QMMF President Abdulrahman Al-Mannai, QMMF’s Executive Director Amro Al-Hamad and General Secretary Abdulrazaq Al-Kuwari.
Clerk of the Course Pedro Almeida and the team at the QMMF have worked hard to fine-tune the Baja and the 2026 edition will feature a private test for the first time on October 28 to enable competitors to carry out any last-minute set-up changes and to prevent the indiscriminate use of other desert tracks.
The 2026 edition offers an extended route and an additional 18.4% of competitive kilometres. Riders and drivers will tackle 538.44km against the clock in a total route of 940.28km.
A Prologue of 9.51km will be held on October 29 to determine the starting orders for the first competition the following morning.
A gruelling opening day’s action on October 30 through the deserts of northern and central Qatar will see competitors racing over 336.34 competitive kilometres – this will be the longest selective section in the entire FIA World Baja Cup and on a par with stages in the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) in terms of difficulty and variety.
The second selective section on October 31 has been trimmed by 13.7% to 202.10km to allow for an earlier conclusion to the Baja. The route will pass through the unique landscapes of southern Qatar and includes a pass through the demanding dunes in the Sealine region in the southeast of the country.
Administration checks, scrutineering, the ceremonial start and finish and all servicing will be carried out in the confines of the Lusail International Circuit for ease and convenience and to reduce the event’s environmental impact.
Entries open and the Supplementary Regulations will be published on September 2. The first closure for entries has been set for September 30 with a final cut-off on October 14.
Full details will be announced in the regulations but the QMMF has already confirmed that entrants in the FIA categories from the GCC will be offered a shipping allowance of $2,500, with international entrants receiving $5,000.
Flight ticket allowances extend to $700 per GCC crew and $1,400 for overseas competitors. FIM entrants will receive $1,250 and $2,500 for shipping, respectively, and $350 or $700 towards air travel.
Accommodation in a twin room for five nights with breakfast is available to FIA and FIM competitors, in addition to QAR 4000 start money for entries received before the first cut-off (QAR 2000 – FIM) and QAR 3000 (QAR 1500 – FIM) thereafter until the closure date.
The QMMF has also worked closely with the EMSO – the organisers of the Dubai International Baja – to arrange a consolidated shipping offer, free of charge, on a first-come, first-served basis to competitors entered in both events. This has been done in conjunction with DSV logistics.
