FIA President Says Bahrain’s New Karting World Championship Boosts Mena Motorsport

Dubai, UAE, 20th November 2025: Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), has said that Bahrain’s hosting of the 2026 FIA Karting World Championship will give a significant boost to motorsport development in the MENA region.

A decade after hosting its third World Championship, the Bahrain International Kart Circuit will host the Mondokart.com FIA Karting World Championships in the OK and OK-Junior categories from 4th to 7th November 2026.

As in previous events, the championship will coincide with the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), which will conclude its 2026 season with an 8-hour race on the main racing circuit. This combination of karting and endurance racing highlights Bahrain’s growing role as a hub for international motorsport.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said:

“Bahrain has played a vital role in the growth of motorsport in the MENA region since it first welcomed Formula One 21 years ago. The return of the Karting World Championship continues this legacy and is essential for the future development of the sport across the region.”

In addition, Ben Sulayem praised the launch of the FIA Karting Arrive and Drive World Cup, describing it as an important step for grassroots motorsport. The debut of this event last week drew large crowds to the LYL International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur, where young drivers competed on a track featuring 21 challenging corners.

Winners of the inaugural event were:

• Troy Ferguson (USA) – Junior Cup

• Zach Tucker (New Zealand) – Senior Cup

Along with the first, second, and third-place finishers in each category, they will now advance to the FIA Karting Shootout to be held in Valencia, Spain, from 2nd to 7th December 2025.

Opening the event in Malaysia via video, Ben Sulayem told participants:

“Learn from every lap and give it your all. May this experience mark the beginning of a long and successful journey in motorsport.”

Among the UAE drivers, Zain Elhommossany, who recently won the MENA Karting Championship Nations Cup, finished fifth in the senior category, while Aaryan Singh placed sixth in the junior category.

The FIA Karting Arrive and Drive World Cup forms a central part of the FIA’s Global Karting Plan, which aims to expand grassroots motorsport worldwide. The plan seeks to reduce financial and technical barriers associated with karting, encourage wider participation, and nurture young talent from every region.

Ben Sulayem added:

“The success of the debut FIA Karting Arrive and Drive World Cup shows how karting is growing globally. Talented drivers are emerging from every corner of the world, and we congratulate them all on their achievements.”

The upcoming shootout in Valencia, Spain, will bring together FIA Karting champions and winners from around the world. This event is a key element of the FIA’s Global Karting Plan and will help set the stage for the next generation of international motorsport talent.