Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East gears up for second stellar appearance at Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2025

Doha, Qatar: As anticipation builds for the thrilling conclusion to the FORMULA 1 2025 season, Lusail International Circuit (LIC) is proud to confirm...

Doha, Qatar: As anticipation builds for the thrilling conclusion to the FORMULA 1 2025 season, Lusail International Circuit (LIC) is proud to confirm the return of the Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East (PCCME) as one of two electrifying support races for the FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS QATAR GRAND PRIX 2025.

Running from Friday, November 28, to Sunday, November 30, the one-make series will once again join forces with the FIA Formula 2 Championship, delivering non-stop wheel to wheel racing on the penultimate weekend of the year. This marks the PCCME's second consecutive outing as an official F1 support race at LIC, building on the resounding success of its 2024 debut that saw German driver Janne Stiak dominate proceedings with a double victory.

Porsche's flagship one-make series, now in its third season under the Carrera Cup banner, unleashes the full potential of the iconic 911 GT3 Cup (type 992) cars. With identical machinery ensuring no technical edges, the focus is purely on driver skill, strategy, and teamwork in intense, sprint style battles across the 5.38 km circuit. The series features three main classes, Pro, Pro Am, and Masters plus GCC and Rookie classifications, providing a level playing field for emerging talents from the region and beyond. Qatari driver Abdulla Al Khelaifi returns this year, stepping up from Pro Am class to the Pro category with QMMF. After his standout P3 overall and class victory in last year’s Race 2 at LIC, exemplifies the home-grown potential the series nurtures.

Rooted in a rich legacy, the PCCME enters its 17th year of collaboration between Lechner Racing and Porsche in the Middle East. Launched as the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East in 2009, it evolved into the Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East in 2019 before ascending to full Carrera Cup status. Over the years, it has launched careers of regional stars like Abdulaziz Al Faisal, Khaled Al Qubaisi, and Al Faisal Al Zubair, offering unparalleled coaching, testing, and race experience to nurture local talent alongside international pros.