PDA

View Full Version : QMSF cancels H1 contract to race in Doha



Serious News
05-29-2015, 09:24 PM
The annual H1 Unlimited race in Doha, Qatar, has been officially canceled, H1 Chairman Steve David announced on Friday.

The race, which has been run annually since 2009 as the Oryx Cup UIM World Championship, was scheduled to be contested Nov. 19-21. However, David said that due to a change in the political structure of the country, all motorsports deals — including those with H1 Unlimited — have been canceled.

H1 Unlimited had four years left on its contract with the Qatar Marine Sports Federation, however the QMSF used an escape clause to void the deal.

“Unfortunately the previous leadership of H1 accepted a 30-day termination provision and we must honor that agreement,” David said in a post on the H1 Unlimited website. “In the normal course of business, contracts have an ‘out’ for force majeur (acts of God, or actions not caused by the parties). While the minister of Youth and Sports could exercise their 30-day notice, it does raise questions about any hopes they have for hosting an Olympic event or their proposed FIFA World Cup.”

In addition to the annual H1 race, officials in Qatar have canceled deals with the NHRA, F1 Outboard, J-Stock outboard and Offshore series.

While not mentioned by David in his post, it is believed that the U-96 Ellstrom Manufacturing Team, which has been sponsored by the QMSF since 2010, is also affected by the deal.

Former H1 Chairman Sam Cole and Sheikh Hassan Bin Jabor Al-Thani of Qatar worked together to bring the Unlimiteds to Doha starting in 2009. Over the past six years, Unlimited teams have received a cash windfall from racing in Qatar, upwards of $100,000 per team per year to race on Doha Bay.

But Al-Thani left the QMSF earlier this year and the new management has apparently decided to concentrate on just sailing events, rather than motorsports.

“Perhaps the political winds will change again, and a new leader of Hassan’s caliber will emerge,” David wrote. “We can only hope, as Hassan was not only unique as a world citizen, he was a man of honor. Let us not blame Qatar for this decision, for it is but a few who made the decision.”

With the cancellation of the Doha race and the uncertainty surrounding a return to Detroit, there are currently only four scheduled races for the 2015 H1 Unlimited season which is set to begin in six weeks at Madison on July 3-5.

In addition to Madison, the only other scheduled races are the APBA Gold Cup in Tri-Cities July 24-26, at Seattle July 31-Aug. 2 and at San Diego Sept. 11-13. According to APBA rules, a minimum of four races must be contested in order to award National High Points.

David said that Dave Holley, CEO of the London-based Peters & May shipping company, is currently working to secure another race for the 2015 season. Holley and his wife Sian were instrumental in bringing an exhibition race to Evansville last year as well as an appearance in Great Britain by the Peters & May-sponsored gbr11 Unlimited two years ago.

http://www.madisoncourier.com/Content/Sports/Sports/Article/QMSF-cancels-H1-contract-to-race-in-Doha/18/289/90550