The new Ferrari Challenge Middle East championship will begin in December 2026, bringing the Ferrari 296 Challenge to four Formula 1 circuits across the region.
Ferrari has confirmed the calendar for the inaugural Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Middle East season, with four rounds scheduled between December 2026 and March 2027.
The new one-make championship will feature the Ferrari 296 Challenge, giving drivers the opportunity to compete at some of the region’s most established motorsport venues.
First announced during the 2025 Finali Mondiali Ferrari, the series represents another step in the manufacturer’s expansion of its international customer racing programme.
Four Formula 1 Circuits Confirmed
The championship will open at Bahrain International Circuit on 11–12 December 2026, before heading to Qatar’s Lusail International Circuit on 9–10 January 2027.
Saudi Arabia will host the third round at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on 5–6 February, while the inaugural season will conclude at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on 20–21 March.
All four venues are familiar to Formula 1 audiences, although each presents different technical challenges.
From Bahrain’s demanding braking zones to Jeddah’s high-speed street circuit and the varied layout of Yas Marina, drivers will face a mixture of circuit characteristics throughout the season.
Ferrari Expands Its Middle East Racing Programme
The introduction of the championship builds on Ferrari’s existing presence in the Middle East, where its Club Challenge programme has operated since October 2020.
The new series will provide a competitive environment for Ferrari customers, extending the established Ferrari Challenge format to another region.
With almost 35 years of history behind the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, the Middle East championship will become the latest addition to Ferrari’s international one-make racing activities.
