-This event was organized by the Qatar Tourism Authority, q.media events and Fira Barcelona
-QMS organizers report more than 70,000 in attendance
Doha, Qatar: Under the patronage of the Prime Minister of Qatar, Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, the 4th annual Qatar International Motor Show (QMS) was considered a tremendous success. Inaugurated by the HE Mr. Jassim bin Seif Ahmad Al Suleiti, Minister of Transport ,a record breaking more than 70,000 of visitors came out to the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) from February 21st-25th 2014, proving this is one of the leading automotive shows regionally and worldwide.
Along with a high number of visitors this year, it is also reported by organizers that many fans eagerly registered for online passes prior to opening. They stated participants represented over 100 countries.
The show opened with over 40 notable and international car and motorcycle brands that showcased their latest luxury, sport, mid-size and SUV segments. Highly esteemed brands that participated included: VW, PORCHE, Bentley, Ford, Renault, Lamborghini, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Infinity, Nissan, Toyota, Lexus, Chevrolet, Cadillac, BMW, Mini, Maserati, Jeep, Chryslar, and Dodge.
The 5-day event had a wide range of interesting activities that appealed to both consumers and trade professionals. Automotive enthusiasts kept entertained and participated in many educational and informative activities such as the interactive World of Speed Exhibit. This exhibit featured talks by Global Dakar rally drivers such as Marc Coma and Josep Luis Merlos from Spain. Known for his wins at the Dakar Rally is 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2014 for riding a KTM motorcycle Coma, is likewise the Wold Champion in Rallies Cross Country Motorcycle Tournament which took place in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Crowds increased and adrenaline raced, as talks continued to take place, this time by Formula One champions and employees that came to the QMS from all over the globe. Mexico’s Jo Ramirez was among the spokesman, a retired employee of several Formula One teams, he was sponsored by Tyrrell, Fittipaldi Copersucar F1 Team and McLaren.
Spain’s Joan Villadelprat also attended the fun as did Karun Chandhok, India’s multiple race champion. During his talk, Chandhok offered his expertise on endurance racing as he was the first Indian to race at the legendary Le Mans 24 hour race. Tilke, Japan’s Kamui Kobayashi similarly riveted the crowed when he spoke about his current experience racing with the Caterham F1 Team and his past experience racing with Formula One from 2009 to 2012 with the Toyotas and Sauber teams. Germany’s Herman Tilke spent some time with audience members as he talked about his involvement as an engineer who was responsible for multiple Formula One circuits that were intricate in design and host Josep Lluis Merlos also announced the British TV star Stig. Onsite for the first time in Qatar to meet fervent fans, Stig’s a famous rally driver known for his show Top Gear. Audience members love him for keeping his identity a secret while putting celebrity driver’s in the front seat and having them test their skills by driving some of the world’s most sought after cars around circuits in his show.
Participants of the QMS toured a jaw dropping photo exhibition which featured the works of prestigious F1 Wold championship photographer Miquel Liso from Spain. An industry expert and award winner, Liso’s work gave visitors and inside look at the exciting world of Formula 1 racing.
The show was nonstop action as participates of all ages were entertained by the thrilling Red Bull stunt team comprised of athletes Séan Garnier, Niki Gomez, Senad Grosic, Petr Kraus and Mansour Al Safran. The group performed exhilarating stunts which included BMX, Trial Biking and a Freestyle soccer shows.
Among the many items on display, this year’s visitors got a sneak peak at the Tramontana GT model which was also introduced. Top of the line, this car impressed visitors with its naturally aspirated V10 engine, 5,200 cc, and F1 regulated safety features.
Finally, the QMS had an exciting announcement for visitors. Highly esteemed Qatar University partnered with Politecnico di Torino from Italy and will be doing research on smart mobility with more details to come.
With the 4th annual Qatar Motor Show now complete, organizers look to start preparations for next year. In line with the strong national vision imparted by our countries esteemed leadership, they promise the QMS will continue to increase in size and visibility and showcase the passion this region has for the automotive industry.
About Qatar Tourism Authority:
Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) manages Qatar’s burgeoning tourism industry and develops it through establishing high profile international and local exhibitions as successful annual calendar events in Qatar.
QTA’s mission is to promote Qatar as a world class tourism destination for business, leisure, culture, education and sport. Its role is to showcase the country’s unique cultural heritage and highlight its tourist attractions.
Acknowledged as the fastest growing economy in the world, Qatar has taken its place on the world stage by hosting global sporting events such as the upcoming 2022 World Cup. As a world class business hub Qatar is where visitors can also enjoy some of the finest hospitality in the world with uber luxury leisure facilities and abundant tourist activities.
About Qatar Media Services W.L.L:
q.media is a 100% Qatari company owned by the Qatari Government. q.media was established in 2004 with the vision to work in outdoor, audio and visual advertising, events and conferences and the film industry. In addition to a healthy business portfolio within Qatar, q.media also owns a number of operations globally. These companies, covering numerous business sectors, include the largest film distributor and exhibitor in the Middle East, and a leader in the field of outdoor advertising, which operates throughout Australia, Indonesia and Vietnam.
About Fira:
Fira de Barcelona is the Spanish leading trade and industrial show organizer and boasts a preeminent position in the European trade fair market. With a portfolio of over 70 shows of different frequencies that bring together 30,000 exhibitors, both direct and represented and receive 2.5 million visitors from over 200 countries. 15 of its trade show feature among the European and international benchmark events. The institution has 400,000 m² of exhibition floor space, one of the largest areas in Europe, spread over 2 venues: Montjuïc and Gran Via.
It is one of the finest platforms to do business, share knowledge and hold major international events, twinned with the unmatchable Barcelona brand, one of the most dynamic and creative cities in Europe with over a century of tradition in the organization of big events. As an economic driver it contributes to the promotion and international outreach of companies and provides support for the productive sector, trade professionals and entrepreneurs, as well as spreading knowledge and entrepreneurial culture.