Two new 4-hour endurance races launched in January
- nn03004
- 2 hours ago
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Abu Dhabi and Qatar to host standalone events at the Gulf's Formula 1 venues
25 January, Yas 4 Hours, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi
31 January, Lusail 4 Hours, Doha, Qatar
The promoter of the Gulf 12 Hours has announced the launch of two new four-hour endurance races scheduled for January, expanding its Gulf endurance platform beyond the flagship 12-hour event. The Yas 4 Hours will take place on 25 January at Yas Marina Circuit, followed by the Lusail 4 Hours on 31 January in Qatar at Lusail International Circuit, the country's national motorsport venue and home of Formula 1, MotoGP and the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Unlike the Gulf 12 Hours, which is reserved for drivers holding an international licence, the two new four-hour races are open to drivers competing with either international or national licences issued by any ASN worldwide. This approach is designed to lower entry barriers and allow a broader range of drivers and teams to race at state-of-the-art Formula 1 circuits in Abu Dhabi and Qatar.
In addition to GT3 cars, the events are also open to GT Cup cars of any specification, offering greater technical flexibility and making the races accessible to a wider spectrum of teams.
Each race will feature five mandatory pit stops, effectively dividing the event into six stints of approximately 40 minutes. These stints must be shared between two or three drivers, with at least one driver classified as FIA Bronze or holding a national licence, for which no FIA categorisation is required.
The Yas 4 Hours and Lusail 4 Hours are standalone events and do not form part of a championship. However, both races count towards the Pirelli Gulf Driver Index, a prize recognising drivers competing in Gulf-region endurance races on Pirelli tyres. The Index also includes the Gulf 12 Hours held in December, and with final standings based on each driver's two best results, all participants remain eligible for overall honours.
Teams and drivers can request entry information here:
