Doha, August 19 (QNA) - The Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) has published Rally Guide 1 and released initial details of this year’s Qatar International Baja.
The Lusail-based event takes its place in the calendar on October 28th-31st and is the penultimate round of both the FIA World and Middle East Baja Cups and round six of the FIM Bajas World Cup. 
QMMF published, in a statement, the Rally Guide 1 and released initial details for this year's edition.
Known throughout cross-country circles as one of the most challenging Bajas in both the FIA and FIM calendars, this year's event will be no exception and features several tweaks and improvements on last autumn's edition. It runs under the chairmanship of QMMF President Abdulrahman Al-Mannai, QMMF’s Executive Director Amro Al-Hamad and General Secretary Abdulrazaq Al Kuwari.
Clerk of the Course Pedro Almeida and the team at the QMMF have worked hard to fine-tune the Baja and the 2026 edition will feature a private test for the first time on Wednesday, Oct. 28 to enable competitors to carry out any last-minute set-up changes and to prevent the indiscriminate use of other desert tracks.
The 2026 edition offers an extended route and an additional 18.4% of competitive kilometres. Riders and drivers will tackle 538.44km against the clock in a total route of 940.28km. 
A Prologue of 9.51km will be held on Thursday, October 29th to determine the starting orders for the first competition the following morning. 
A gruelling opening day’s action on Friday, October 30th through the deserts of northern and central Qatar will see competitors racing over 336.34 competitive kilometres, this will be the longest selective section in the entire FIA World Baja Cup and on a par with stages in the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) in terms of difficulty and variety. 
The second selective section on Saturday, October 31st has been trimmed by 13.7% to 202.10km to allow for an earlier conclusion to the Baja. The route will pass through the unique landscapes of southern Qatar and includes a pass through the demanding dunes in the Sealine region in the southeast of the country. 
Administration checks, scrutineering, the ceremonial start and finish and all servicing will be carried out in the confines of the Lusail International Circuit for ease and convenience and to reduce the event’s environmental impact. 
Entries open and the Supplementary Regulations will be published on Wednesday, September 2nd. The first closure for entries has been set for Wednesday, Sep. 30, with a final cut-off on Wednesday, Oct. 14. (QNA)