His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar, owner of the Al-Anabi Group of Drag Racing Teams in the US and the Middle East, became the first Qatari to drive a Formula One car when he took to the 5.3km Losail International Circuit in a Williams FW31 yesterday.

His Highness completed a comprehensive preparation process including travelling to the AT&TWilliams team base in Oxford, UK, earlier this week for a seat fit and a detailed instruction process inthe team’s advanced simulator. Combined with his tireless preparation and training with his Al AnabiDrag Racing team, His Highness Sheikh Khalid was fully prepared to use his competition drivingexperience to become the first Qatari ever to drive a Formula One car.

Having completed 5 laps of the circuit, His Highness commented, “The Williams FW31 is aremarkable vehicle, unlike any other race car I’ve ever driven. Being the first Qatarian to drive aFormula One car was an amazing experience I will not forget. I am proud that I was able toexperience this honour at home in the State of Qatar.”

His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al-Thani recently took first place at a 2009-10 Arabian DragRacing League event at the Qatar Race Club, making the second-quickest Pro Extreme pass in theworld. His Highness is a patron of motorsport in Qatar and internationally. He also heads thedevelopment of the Qatar Motor City project, a planned international destination which aims to furtherHis Highness’ vision of the State of Qatar as a centre for international motorsports by combining aworld-class oval track, road racing course and drag racing track into a motorsports dedicated city. HisHighness has been in lengthy discussions with NASCAR in the US about involvement in Qatar MotorCity. Combined with his leadership in international drag racing through Al Anabi Racing and hiscontinuing relationship with the Williams Team and others involved in Formula One racing, under hisdirection Qatar Motor City aims to be one of the world’s leading motorsports hubs for all forms ofracing.

Sir Frank Williams, the AT&T Williams Team Principal said, “It was a privilege to be able to facilitatethis historic first for His Highness and the State of Qatar today. The team of engineers that workedwith Sheikh Khalid reported that he demonstrated considerable skill and aptitude in the DIL simulatorat our headquarters near Oxford this week. Based on his established competition experience andcompetence in the DIL, we extended an additional invitation to enable His Highness Sheikh Khalid todrive the FW31, and he acquitted himself with honours. We are delighted and honoured that HisHighness has not only sampled our simulator technology which is the basis for our recent investmentin the Qatar Science and Technology Park in Doha, but that he has now driven the FW31 and can notonly draw comparison between the virtual and real world. Equally we hope a first-hand Formula Oneexperience will assist in His Highness with his future vision for the Qatar Motor City.”

The team additionally ran a series of demonstration laps led by 2010 season team race driver, NicoHulkenberg. Having raced and won at the circuit in the GP2 Asia Championship, he commented, “Ireally like this circuit, it has a flow that suits my driving style, so it was great to come back here for afilming project with the team and to provide His Highness with some assistance in his first drive in aFormula One car. Although I doubt the straight line speed compares with a Top Fuel Dragster that heis used to racing, I hope some of the other performance aspects of Formula One technologyimpressed him.” Nico Hulkenberg will stay in Doha next week to use some of the first-class sportingfacilities to conduct a winter training camp.

AT&T Williams’ other 2010 season race driver, the vastly experienced Rubens Barrichello sampledthe Losail International Circuit for first time this week and remarked that, “There are plenty of cornerson the Losail Circuit, so it took a while to memorise, but it had great grip level and the layout is great.It has a long enough straight to promote good overtaking and it would make a great venue for aGrand Prix.”

The team’s visit to Losail concluded a filming and photography project generating material that will beused by the team’s numerous sponsors, promoting Qatar around the world.