The Race Is On: More About the Exhibition

The Early Years of Motorsport

Since the invention of the motorcar, there has been the desire to test which manufacturers made the fastest cars, and who were the bravest drivers.  Motor racing history began with time trails and road races between towns.  The closed circuit racing you see today started in the early 1900s, at circuits such as Indianapolis and Le Mans.

By the 1920s and 1930s grand prix motor racing was similar to the sport you see today.  Streamlined single-seater racing cars were built with the sole aim to be the fastest on the track.  The top car manufacturers, such as Auto Union, Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, Delage, Fiat Maserati, Mercedes Benz and Talbot, competed to win competitions across the world. Classic races such as the Mille Miglia, Le Mans 24hrs, Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500 were all established during this period.

Following World War II many sports established international governing bodies.  Motorsport was no exception.  In 1946 the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), agreed on a new set of rules named ‘Formula One’.  The World Drivers’ Championship began in 1950, and by 1958 the Constructors’ Championship for those building the cars was created.

Pioneer of Motorsport: Anna Maria Peduzzi (1912-1979)

An enigmatic figure, Anna Maria Peduzzi was one of the best female drivers of her generation.  She was introduced to motor-racing by her husband, Gianfranco (Franco) Comotti, an amateur racing driver.  She competed in her first race at the age of 20, with Franco as her co-driver.  She was probably the first female member of team Scuderi Ferrari, which initially prepared and raced Alfa Romeo cars.

In 1933 Peduzzi acquired the brand-new Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Gran Sport Testa Fissa (on display in the museum). In this first year of racing, she won the 1500cc class in the Mille Miglia, a famous 1,000 mile (1600km) endurance race around Italy. She specialised in long distance events and gruelling hill-climbs. The press nicknamed her Marocchina (Moroccan girl) due to her olive skin; a name she used throughout her career.

Marocchina’s career was interrupted by the Second World War.  She fled to Paris with Franco, who became an undercover agent for the Allies.  Franco was captured by the Nazis, but escaped death, rejoining Anna Maria.  She contracted polio, which left her with a disability.  In July 1952 Marocchina resumed racing; once more achieving podiums, and overcoming discrimination against her disability.  She never won a championship, but she did beat many championship winners, who were mainly men.

The FIA Formula One World Championship

The FIA Formula One World Championship is the most prestigious motor racing competition. The inaugural race took place at Silverstone, England, in the presence of the British King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on Saturday 13 May 1950.

In the seven decades of thrilling competition that followed, there have been huge advances in:

• car technology and safety
• the number and size of the teams
• racetrack and spectator facilities

The first season in 1950 consisted of seven races, all but one in Europe.  Today the F1 season consists of a series of 23 Grand Prix races, in multiple countries and continents around the world.  Some take place on purpose-built circuits like Lusail, while others take place on closed public roads like the Monaco Grand Prix.

Today, names such as Verstappen and Schumacher, Ferrari and McLaren are renowned throughout the world,  and millions tune in to watch drivers and constructors compete for one of the greatest prizes in sport.

What Is Formula 1?

Formula 1 (F1) is the highest international class of racing for cars approved by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).  Its name refers to the Formula, or set of rules, that cars must comply with for teams to take part.

F1 rules are set by the FIA.  They have evolved over time to reflect improvements in technology and safety as well as the scale of the competition. The rules cover the following areas:

• Car regulations covering everything from engine specifications, fuel, aerodynamics, electrics, steering and tyres
• Driver requirements
• Circuit requirements, including the race distance and safety measures
• The race format, procedures and points scoring

Formula One Rules and Regulations

The Points System

Each race carries a number of points, the highest number for a win, going down to a single point for a 10th place finish. The points build up through the season, and the driver with the highest number of points at the end wins the championship. The Constructors’ Championship is decided by combining points from both drivers in a team.  The team with the highest number of points wins the championship.

The Teams and Regulations

There are 10 teams currently in Formula One, each providing two cars in a race.  The teams employ over 800 people to design, build and develop the cars during the year.  The cars are built to a strict set of regulations that cover every aspect, from the weight of the car which must not be below 796kg, the amount of fuel a car can carry, and the types of tyres the teams can use.  The rules are so extensive that they cover 183 pages!  You can view the entire set of regulations at Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (fia.com).

Governance of the Sport

The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) is the governing body for motorsport based in Paris, France.  The commercial rights to Formula 1 are owned by US firm Liberty Media.  Between the two organisations, they promote and administer the World Championship and manage the relationships between the teams, circuits and media outlets.

The Formula One Constructors’ Championship

As the sport grew more complex, more money was needed to build more cars.  The championship for constructors was established to reward those competing, but also to attract new companies to the sport. Known initially as the International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers, it was first presented in 1958. Its name changed to the World Constructors’ Championship in 1981.

Ferrari have won the Constructors’ Championship more times than any other team with 16 wins. Williams, McLaren and Mercedes have also had many wins. Since 1958 all but 17 (16 Ferrari and 1 Matra) of the constructors’ championships have been won by cars built in the UK.

In recent years, the Constructors' Championship has been more important to the teams than the drivers’ world title, as the better a team does in the championship the more prize money they receive at the end of the year. Each place in the championship can be worth millions of dollars to a team’s budget.

Formula One Steering Wheels

Formula One steering wheels have changed dramatically since the first championship in 1950. Early models were large wooden circles. As car cockpits got smaller, so did the steering wheels, which began to be made from aluminium with a cover to make them lighter.

As technology improved, steering wheels started to do more than just direct the car.  Buttons were added to enable the driver to talk to the engineers via the in-car radio, and to access their drink. In 1989 Ferrari introduced the semi-automatic gearbox, enabling drivers to use paddles at the back of the wheel to change gear without taking their hands off the wheel.

Further developments were made during the 2000s. Drivers could now change the brake bias or engine modes from the wheel, and display screens provided information on lap times, and oil and water pressures.  Clutch paddles at the rear enabled a fast get away at the start of the race.  Wheels became rectangular with grips for drivers to hold and adjust the buttons without taking their hands off the wheel.

Qatar and Rally Racing: The Beginnings

Rally racing was introduced to Qatar and the Arabian Gulf through a unique collaboration between oil company employees and Qataris during the 1960s and 1970s.  Qatari motorsports fans joined the committee of the Qatar Sports Club set up by Shell for its ex-pat employees, working as administrators and rally drivers.  This collaboration led to the launch of the Qatar Motor Rally in 1975 (later the Qatar International Rally), the first official rally in the country.

However, the roots of Qatar’s passion for rallying, go back much further.  The nation’s love of cars and racing link to the desert traditions of hunting with camels and horses, and racing linked to celebrations.  The first car, a Ford, arrived in Qatar for the ruler of Qatar, Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani in 1925.  As car ownership increased, vehicles became associated with special events and were given as competition prizes.

In the early 1980s, the first cars meeting FIA regulations arrived in Qatar.  This period saw the professionalisation of Qatari drivers, and new partnerships with international companies.  The advent of the Arabian Gulf Championship in 1979 and the Middle East Championship in 1984 further elevated the status of Qatari motorsport.

Saeed Al Hajri, King of Dunes

Saeed Al Hajri learnt to drive at the age of 7 during hunting trips with his father.  He quickly developed a passion for fast cars.  At the age of 15 he began competing in amateur competitions, and by the age of 19 had turned professional.  Saeed was influenced by famous racers, such as Hannu Mikkola from Finland and Ari Vatanen from Sweden.

Saeed started his professional career with Rothmans Porsche Rally Team in 1983, driving a Porsche 911 Carrera SC RS, and went on to drive for many manufacturers.  During the 1980s he became a dominant force in the rally racing scene of the Arab region.  His natural talent and total dedication soon led to international recognition and titles.

In 1989 he won the Cork International Rally, becoming the first Arab driver to win a rally outside the Middle East, establishing Qatar’s reputation for superiority in the sport.  Over his 30-year career, Al Hajri participated in 110 rallies and achieved victory in numerous championships.  He won the prestigious FIA Middle East Rally (MERC) twice, and went on to earn a further 16 international titles.

Qatar Rallying After Al Hajri

Whilst Saeed Al Hajri is the patriarch of rallying in Qatar, other drivers have made significant contributions.

Saadoun Al Kuwari and Jaber Al Marri began their careers during the 1980s, earning titles in local and international events.  Another noteworthy driver, Muhammad Al Mannai, began racing in 1989, but a serious accident in 1992 during training left him partially paralysed.  Remarkably, all three successfully returned to competition after the turn of the century.

In the 1990s, Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah made his first appearance, preparing the ground for his future triumphs.  The late Sheikh Hamad bin Eid Al Thani made his debut in the same period, winning titles in the Middle East Rally Championship (first place, 1993) and the World Cup for Cross Country Bajas (second place, 2007).

Adel Hussein Abdulla has notched up over one hundred international rallies since the 1990s, becoming World Cross Country Rally Champion (T2) in 2016.  Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, son of Saadoun, is now following his father's example, in 2019 coming second to Nasser Al Attiyah in the Middle East Rally Championship.

Over the last 50 years, these drivers have built Qatar’s rallying tradition.

Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah, Desert Dominator

As a boy, Nasser Al Attiyah dreamed of winning the Dakar Rally.  His hero was the Finn Ari Vatanen (born 1952), the four-time Dakar, World Rally Champion and winner of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies. He started driving accompanied by his father around the age of 10.

Nasser’s first sporting success was in skeet shooting. He made the first of six Olympic appearances in 1996, winning bronze at London 2012.  He was inspired to focus seriously on racing by Scottish F1 champion and international shooter, Jackie Stewart (born 1939).  Stewart argues that shooting benefitted his concentration and hand-eye coordination as a driver.

Nasser entered his first Middle East Rally in 2003, and first major win was the 2006 Production Car World Rally Championship.  He went on to become 2014 and 2015 WRC-2 champion, 19-times Middle East Rally Champion, five times winner of both the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rally and the Dakar Rally. He is the only Middle Easterner and West Asian to win Dakar more than once.

Al Attiyah prefers to drive rally cars over regular cars, believing that they are safer.

The Future of Motorsport in Qatar

The Qatar National Vision 2030 promotes a sports culture in the country.  It aims to provide world-class infrastructure, to nurture young talent, and to empower women to unlock their potential and get active.  Qatar is now recognised as a global sports hub, hosting a wide range of local, regional, and international sporting events.  The Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation and Lusail International Circuit are together spearheading motorsport development.

The Qatar Motorsport Academy, established in 2019, runs training programmes in collaboration with the Lusail Circuit Sports Club, the Aspire Academy and the Dorna Junior Talent Team.  The goal is to identify and cultivate a new generation of male and female Qatari racers across all categories.

Over 200 boys and girls between 5 and 17 years-old register annually for the Karting Academy.  Adults are also catered for, and there is a separate women-only academy.  Racing stars of the future can get the chance to take part in MENA karting competitions. Notable drivers produced by the academy include Abdulaziz Al Kuwari and Khaled Al Suwaidi, who won the 2022 Kuwait International Rally.

E-Sport Takes the Wheel

Qatar E-sports Federation was officially established in 2022 but has been active since 2013.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation was one of the first federations in the world to organise official online racing championships.

For existing drivers, such as Nasser Saadoun Al Kuwari and Ahmed Al Kuwari, these tournaments provided valuable practice during lockdown.  For novices, E-sport opened up the possibility of progressing from virtual to real-life racing.

The Quest for Sustainability

Motorsport has long been seen a contributor to global warming.  However, Formula 1 and the World Rally Championship (WRC) are actually at the forefront of efforts to reduce CO2 and make the sport more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Alternative Fuels

Petro-chemical companies are working on sustainably sourced fuels. Since 2022 all WRC cars have run on fuel that is 100% sustainable, with no carbon emissions.  The fuel is made from liquid synthetic hydrocarbons produced by converting alcohols into synthetic hydrocarbons.  It contains no fossil components, and the energy required to produce it comes from renewable sources such as wind, solar, and hydro power.

By 2026, 100% sustainable fuel will be used by Formula 1 cars on racetracks, cars will run with no reduction in performance of the cars.  World Champion Sebastian Vettel demonstrated this fuel in a classic 1992 F1 car at Silverstone in 2022.

Formula 1 has had hybrid technology as early as 1998, but it became part of the official rules in 2009.  The engines in F1 are quite small, just 1.6 litre, but they are backed up by electrical power, giving drivers about 850 BHP in total.  This technology is tested in Formula 1, but car manufacturers use this as a test to develop hybrid engines for the road cars we drive today.

In 2024 a huge milestone was reached when Audi won the gruelling 3 week-long desert Dakar rally with a low emission car.  Carlos Sainz drove the Audi TU1 using an electric drivetrain, high-voltage battery and energy converter to give the car more power reliability, beating the more conventional combustion engine cars.

Change of Calendar

Formula 1 and the WRC have also changed their calendars, grouping races and rallies into geographical areas.  Teams now travel shorter distances to races, which reduces air travel and the carbon footprint considerably.  The logistics of moving 100s of tonnes of freight each week was huge, so this change also reduces demands on team personnel.

Changes to the Rules

Other rule changes include the F1 qualifying requirements, which reduce the number of tyres that need to be transported, thereby reducing carbon footprints.  All circuits now have to meet strict carbon emissions targets to be part of the Formula One calendar.

3-2-1 and the Future

We dedicate this exhibition to the fearless motorsports drivers past and present who have pushed themselves to the limit of the sport, the professionalism and technical wizardry of their teams and worldwide fans that support them.

The mission of 321 Museum is to collect, safeguard and share the incredible stories of global and Qatari sport with everyone.  It is thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our donors, partners and lenders that we can showcase these extraordinary collections and preserve them for future generations.