Ferrari is expanding its racing portfolio with the launch, during the Finali Mondiali weekend, of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Middle East. The new regional series, featuring the 296 Challenge, follows the great success of the Club Challenge programme, which has been running in the region since October 2020.
With this championship, the Middle East becomes the fourth region to host the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, joining the United Kingdom, Japan and Australasia, alongside the well-established Europe and North America series.
The new series underscores Ferrari’s commitment to expanding its global motorsport presence, offering both emerging talents and gentleman drivers an exclusive and exhilarating racing experience within a unique and proven format that has been a benchmark in motorsport for over thirty years.
From late 2026 to early 2027, the series will visit some of the region’s most iconic circuits, selected for their technical character, fast layouts, and spectacular settings.
From the stunning Sakhir Circuit in Bahrain to the technical and challenging Lusail track in Qatar, from the ultra-fast Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia to the iconic Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, each round will offer drivers the chance to compete at venues that regularly host Formula 1 Grands Prix.
Like every Ferrari Challenge series, the Middle East championship will combine the intensity of 30-minute races with Ferrari’s hallmark hospitality, creating a unique environment where competition, team spirit and the Ferrari lifestyle come together in perfect harmony.
Antonello Coletta, Global Head of Ferrari Endurance and Corse Clienti: “Expanding our series to the Middle East underscores the continued growth of the Ferrari Challenge’s global presence. It is important for us to offer our clients the chance to enjoy spectacular racing at the wheel of the 296 Challenge, on circuits that, while modern, have already achieved iconic status and helped establish this region among the elite of world motorsport.”
Andrea Mladosic, Head of Ferrari Challenge and Corso Pilota: “The launch of the Ferrari Challenge Middle East at the end of the year is a great source of pride for us and marks another important step in the championship’s regional expansion, a process that began in 2019 with the introduction of Challenge UK.
With this new Middle Eastern series, the Ferrari Challenge will now comprise four regional championships – the UK, Japan, Australasia and the Middle East – alongside the two established series in Europe and North America. Our racing clients have often expressed a desire to compete on the magnificent circuits this region has to offer.
The calendar we’ve designed is extremely exciting and will be preceded by a special ‘prologue’ event during the Ferrari Racing Days, scheduled for February in Qatar.”
Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Middle East – Calendar 2026–2027
• Bahrain International Circuit: 11–12 December 2026
• Lusail International Circuit (Qatar): 9–10 January 2027
• Jeddah Corniche Circuit (Saudi Arabia): 29–30 January 2027
• Yas Marina Circuit Abu Dhabi (UAE): 20–21 March 2027
