As part of this week’s Finali Mondiali at Mugello, Ferrari has announced its latest one-make racing series, the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Middle East.
The Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Middle East will utilise the Ferrari 296 Challenge, and run to a sprint format of 30-minute races.
It joins Ferrari’s existing roster of series in Europe, North America, the United Kingdom, Japan and Australasia, and will build on the Italian brand’s Club Challenge programme, which debuted in the Middle East in 2020.
The inaugural season will take place in 2026/27, with a four-round calendar visiting Bahrain, Qatar, Jeddah and Yas Marina. Before then, a ‘Prologue’ will take place as part of the Ferrari Racing Day’s visit to Qatar in February 2026.
“Expanding our series to the Middle East underscores the continued growth of the Ferrari Challenge’s global presence,” said Antonello Coletta, Global Head of Ferrari Endurance and Corse Clienti.
“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, added: “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.”
2026/27 Calendar
- Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain (11/12 December 2026)
- Lusail International Circuit, Qatar (9/10 January 2027)
- Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Saudi Arabia (29/30 January 2027)
- Yas Marina Circuit, United Arab Emirates (20/21 March 2027)
Image courtesy of Ferrari S.p.a
