Kabbani Ferrari Racing Days Set the Stage for a New Chapter in the Middle East
Ferrari Racing Days at Lusail International Circuit marked a defining moment for customer motorsport in the region, delivering a compelling opening chapter for the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Middle East. Serving as the official Prologue ahead of the championship’s inaugural season, the weekend in Qatar offered three competitive races, extensive track time, and the first meaningful benchmark of driver performance, team preparation, and vehicle capability. Against the striking backdrop of Lusail’s floodlit layout, the single-make Ferrari Challenge series immediately demonstrated its potential to become a cornerstone of motorsport activity in the Middle East, combining close racing, professional organisation, and the unmistakable atmosphere that surrounds Ferrari-branded competition.
Lusail International Circuit as a Proving Ground
The Lusail International Circuit provided an ideal venue for the Prologue, offering a technically demanding layout that tested drivers across braking stability, corner precision, and race management. Its smooth surface, high-speed sections, and combination of long straights and flowing corners allowed the Ferrari 296 Challenge to showcase its balance of power, aerodynamics, and mechanical grip. Over the course of the weekend, teams and drivers were able to refine setups, analyse tyre behaviour, and adapt driving styles, making the Prologue not only a competitive event but also a critical learning exercise ahead of the championship proper.
Competitive Intensity Across Three Prologue Races
The Prologue format delivered three races, each adding clarity to the competitive order while reinforcing how closely matched the field is in both Trofeo Pirelli and Coppa Shell categories. Rather than a single exhibition outing, the multiple-race structure allowed consistency, adaptability, and racecraft to emerge as decisive factors. Across the sessions, margins were tight, lap times steadily improved, and battles developed both at the front and throughout the field, underlining the depth of talent committed to the Middle East series from its very first appearance.
Race 3 Confirms Early Front-Runners
By the time Race 3 concluded, the Prologue had produced two clear standout performers. Mamoun Al Kabbani and Maya Hartge, both representing Dragon Racing, completed a remarkable hat-trick of victories in their respective classes. Their performances across the weekend demonstrated not only outright pace but also consistency under pressure, effective race starts, and the ability to manage traffic and tyres across full race distances. Race 3, in particular, provided a decisive snapshot of the competitive dynamics likely to define the upcoming season.
Trofeo Pirelli Battle at the Front
In the Trofeo Pirelli class, Mamoun Al Kabbani delivered another commanding drive despite starting second on the grid. From the opening laps, he applied immediate pressure to pole-sitter Fouad Alghanim, forcing the issue early and executing a decisive move to take the lead. Once ahead, Al Kabbani faced sustained pressure as Alghanim refused to concede, keeping the gap tight and ensuring the contest remained intense through the closing stages. The battle highlighted the competitive spirit of the series, with both drivers pushing the Ferrari 296 Challenge to its limits while maintaining clean and controlled racing.
Performance Metrics and Race Pace Development
Fouad Alghanim’s performance underscored his growing confidence over the course of the Prologue. Despite finishing second, the Kuwaiti driver set the fastest lap of the race with a time of 1’56’’741, improving on his previous best from earlier in the weekend. This progression reflected the learning curve inherent in the Prologue format, as drivers translated data, feedback, and experience into measurable gains on track. Ernst Kirchmayr of Baron Motorsport completed the Trofeo Pirelli podium, securing third place after a hard-fought race that further illustrated the competitive balance within the class.
Ferrari 296 Challenge at the Core of the Action
Central to the weekend’s success was the Ferrari 296 Challenge itself, which proved to be a highly effective platform for one-make competition. Its responsiveness, braking performance, and aerodynamic stability allowed drivers of varying backgrounds to compete closely while still being challenged to refine technique and race management. Across the Trofeo Pirelli field, the car enabled sustained wheel-to-wheel battles without compromising safety or consistency, reinforcing its role as the technical foundation of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Middle East.
Coppa Shell Consistency and Control
In the Coppa Shell category, Maya Hartge continued her flawless Prologue with another composed and authoritative performance in Race 3. From the start, she established control over the race, maintaining a steady rhythm and avoiding unnecessary risk while still delivering competitive lap times. Her approach highlighted the importance of consistency and precision in the Coppa Shell class, where maintaining focus across the full race distance often proves more decisive than aggressive overtaking.
Class-Leading Lap Times and Podium Finishers
Hartge’s pace was underlined by her fastest lap of 1’58’’404 in Coppa Shell, reinforcing her strong affinity with the Lusail circuit throughout the weekend. Khaled Boodai of Dragon Racing secured second place, while Ata Shobeiry of Baron Motorsport completed the podium in third. Together, the Coppa Shell results reflected a competitive and well-matched field, with drivers demonstrating steady improvement across sessions and races as they adapted to both the circuit and the Ferrari 296 Challenge.
Prologue as a Learning and Development Platform
Beyond the race results, the Prologue served its broader purpose as a preparation platform for the championship’s inaugural season. Teams used the weekend to refine operational procedures, pit lane coordination, and data analysis workflows, while drivers gained invaluable experience in race starts, traffic management, and tyre preservation. For a new regional series, this structured introduction was essential in establishing professional standards and ensuring that competitors enter the championship rounds with a strong foundation of experience and confidence.
Driver Reflections Highlight the Event’s Impact
Mamoun Al Kabbani reflected on the significance of the weekend, noting that improved starts and accumulated experience played a key role in his success. He emphasised the quality of organisation and the opportunity the Ferrari Challenge Middle East provides for drivers to develop their skills in a highly capable and engaging race car. His comments captured the spirit of the Prologue, which balanced competition with community and shared enthusiasm for Ferrari motorsport.
Coppa Shell Perspective on the Experience
Maya Hartge echoed similar sentiments, describing the races and the overall event as truly fantastic and highlighting the excitement of being part of the Ferrari Challenge Middle East from its very beginning. Her praise for the Ferrari 296 Challenge reinforced the car’s role in delivering both enjoyment and competitive integrity, particularly for drivers progressing within the Coppa Shell category.
Ferrari Racing Days Beyond Competitive Racing
Ferrari Racing Days extended well beyond the competitive Ferrari Challenge sessions, offering a comprehensive motorsport experience through a range of Corse Clienti programmes. The Lusail circuit hosted historic single-seaters from the F1 Clienti programme, allowing owners to experience Formula 1 machinery in a controlled environment. Alongside these iconic cars, participants from the XX Programme and Sport Prototipi Clienti brought the 499P Modificata to the track, showcasing Ferrari’s latest innovations in endurance racing technology.
Showcasing Ferrari’s Motorsport Heritage
These non-competitive sessions added depth and spectacle to the weekend, reinforcing Ferrari Racing Days as a celebration of the brand’s past, present, and future in motorsport. From historic Formula 1 cars to cutting-edge prototypes, the variety of machinery on display highlighted Ferrari’s continuous technical evolution and its commitment to engaging clients directly in authentic track experiences. This blend of competition and heritage further elevated the Lusail event beyond a conventional race meeting.
Building Momentum for the Inaugural Season
With the Prologue completed, focus now shifts to the official launch of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Middle East championship. The series is scheduled to run over four rounds between December 2026 and March 2027, forming a winter calendar that aligns with the region’s prime motorsport season. Each round will visit a major circuit, ensuring variety in track characteristics and maintaining competitive interest throughout the campaign.
Championship Calendar and Regional Significance
The upcoming season will include rounds in Bahrain, Qatar, Jeddah, and Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi, connecting some of the Middle East’s most iconic racing venues into a cohesive championship. This regional scope not only enhances the series’ prestige but also strengthens Ferrari’s motorsport presence across key markets. By combining world-class circuits with a professionally managed one-make series, the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Middle East is positioned to become a flagship platform for customer racing in the region.
A Strong Foundation for the Future
The Lusail Prologue demonstrated that the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Middle East has begun on solid footing, with competitive racing, committed teams, and enthusiastic drivers all contributing to a successful debut. The clarity of early front-runners, the close margins throughout the field, and the positive feedback from participants collectively suggest that the championship’s inaugural season will deliver both sporting quality and sustained engagement. As the series moves toward its first points-paying round, the lessons learned in Qatar will shape preparations, strategies, and expectations for what promises to be a compelling new chapter in Ferrari’s global customer racing programme.
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