Saudi Arabia could be open to internet hosting two System One races a yr and it might occur within the close to future, native organisers mentioned on Friday.
Sunday’s race on the Jeddah Corniche road circuit would be the third grand prix held within the kingdom, the place a brand new monitor deliberate for the ‘entertainment city’ of Qiddiya close to Riyadh may very well be prepared by 2027.
“The idea of having two races in Saudi is doable,” Saudi Vehicle and Motorbike Federation chairman Prince Khalid bin Sultan al-Abdullah al-Faisal advised chosen reporters.
“You have three races in the (United) States because the market is big there and there is a demand. So the demand is there (in Saudi Arabia), but the decision is not made. There’s a lot of things we need to consider.
“The sport is growing, the demand is growing, so I would not be surprised if Saudi, in the near future, will host two races. I wouldn’t be surprised,” he added.
“The demand is there and we have two beautiful facilities.”
The prince mentioned System One was the most important sporting occasion in Saudi Arabia, and there had been appreciable funding within the Jeddah monitor, however there had been no dialogue with industrial rights holders Liberty Media on internet hosting two races.
Saudi Arabia appears prone to be the opening race subsequent yr, as an alternative of neighbouring Bahrain, resulting from the place Ramadan falls on the calendar.
The nation made its debut in December 2021, paired with Abu Dhabi, earlier than switching to a late March slot on back-to-back weekends with Bahrain final yr.
“It’s either going to be Saudi or Bahrain that can have a race before Ramadan, and after Ramadan the weather in April and May is hot,” mentioned Prince Khalid.
“So March is the last time where the weather is suitable… otherwise it will shift to October or after where the weather starts to get better in our region.”
