Qatar will host the first-ever night race of the Speed Car and GP2 Asia Series at the Losail International Circuit from February 12 to 14, Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) President Nasser Khalifa Al Attiyah said. “We have won the rights to host the events for the first time in Qatar,” said the QMMF President, at a press conference yesterday. The six-leg Speed Car Series and GP2 Asia Series is being held in Dubai and Bahrain—two races each—and in Qatar and Malaysia. The Grand Racing features more than six hours of combined racing action. The inaugural Speed Car Series Championship started its annual tour in November 2007. The drivers compete in identical V8 620bhp stock cars, which lack electronic driver aids. Director of Operations of the Speed Car Series Claudio Berro said the future of motor sports lies with the Speed Car and GP2 Series. “It is an exciting and entertaining event.” The effects of the global economic downturn have not affected the Speed Car and GP2 Series in the form of withdraws of teams. Berro sees no future threats of withdrawals. “We are confident that no pull-outs will happen in the Series.” Legendary Formula One champions vie with high calibre international drivers and young, upcoming aces, for the Speed Car Series Championship title. Johnny Herbert, a former Formula One driver said he is enjoying his time in the competition and said that racing under lights will be a ‘different experience altogether’. Herbert won the second Speed Car Series race held in Bahrain. For some of the Formula One drivers Speed Car Series has been a new learning experience. Vitantonio Liuzzi is one of them. The Italian–based driver who won the first race of the Speed Car Series this year in Dubai said: “I am learning new things. I am enjoying life on the track in the Series. My only regret is that the season ends in April.” General Manager of Speed Car series Hamish Brown was also present. http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local%5FNews&subsection=Qatar+News&month=January2009&file=Local_News200901265312.xml

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