Losail set for 8 hours of Doha

The second round of the Endurance World Championship will take place this weekend at Losail International Circuit. A total of 23 teams will join the 8 Hours of Doha in the two different categories, Formula EWC and Superstock.  In EWC, the team leading the standings after the first round in Bol d’Or, Team SRC Kawasaki, have decided to skip the Doha round, putting Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (SERT) in an advantageous position. SERT, who are second, can now take the lead in the five-round event if they get a good result in Doha. Superstock leaders  3D endurance Moto Centre also absent in Doha, with the result that the second-placed Team Penz 13 can go top of the standings if they do well. The two teams from QMMF, Qatar Endurance Racing Team I (95) and Qatar Endurance Racing Team II (96), have great expectations in Doha. QERT 95 with a Suzuki GSXR 1000 and formed by Anthony West, Nasser al-Malki and Nina Prinz are hoping for a podium finish at Losail. West and al-Naimi just came back from Spain where they took part last week in MotoGP World Championship and Spanish Championship respectively. The third member of the team, the German rider Nina Prinz, is in fine form after finishing fourth in the Qatar International Road Racing Championship held last weekend at Losail. The other QERT team is formed by Saeed al-Sulati, Elena Rosell and Sultan al-Kuwari. Free practices take place tomorrow between 7 and 11pm, with qualifying practice is scheduled for Friday between 6.20pm to midnight. The start of the 8 Hours of Doha will be on Saturday at 5pm and will end at 1am on Sunday. The main grandstand is open to the public and the entrance is free. VIP and Paddock passes are available at QMMF offices in Salwa Road and at the Welcome Centre of the Losail International Circuit during the event. The prices are QR100 for a Paddock Pass and QR 250 for a VIP Pass.from gulf times.