Kuwait Motor Town Race Circuit

Report: New Kuwait Circuit Vying for WEC Race

Kuwait could play host to the FIA World Endurance Championship as early as next year, with the new Hermann Tilke-designed FIA Grade 1 venue reportedly in the running to potentially replace Bahrain on the 2018 calendar. Kuwait Motor Town, a 3.7-mile circuit located 35 miles south of capital city of Kuwait City, is expected to be completed in 2018, with ground have already broken on the 148 million Euro facility earlier this year. With a Formula One date appearing to be unlikely, Tilke revealed in an interview with German publication “Sport Auto” that local promoters are looking “into attracting the second best world championship behind F1, and that is currently WEC.” WEC boss Gerard Neveu wouldn’t confirm they are in talks with Kuwait but did indicate that its current contract with Bahrain is up at the end of this year. Bahrain, which has hosted rounds of the WEC since the championship’s launch in 2012, has held an exclusivity deal for the Middle East, with industry sources indicating that a bidding war could develop between the two countries for the date. While it’s unclear if negotiations have advanced in recent months, Neveu said they are always in contact with numerous circuits and promoters that have shown interest in hosting a round. “This is why you have these rumors because it’s the end of [a contract] cycle for some circuits, so we’re looking at doing for next year,” Neveu said last month at Spa. The 2018 WEC schedule could have a significantly different look to it, with the possibility of a reduction to eight rounds and varied race lengths, away from its traditional six-hour format that has been used for all regular-season events since 2013. Neveu indicated that contracts with other circuits are also up for renewal, rumored to include Mexico City and Circuit of The Americas, although Neveu said a three-year extension with Fuji Speedway has been signed. The government-funded Kuwait Motor Town, meanwhile, is set to feature multiple circuit configurations, as well as a karting track, off-road course, drag strip, driving academy, plus an on-site shopping mall and hotel.

7 Jun 2017

Kuwait Motor Town shall position itself as a new place making destination with a unique FIA grade 1 circuit as the nucleus of the state of the art facility, which will attract a wide spectrum of people. Whether professional race driver, or families seeking for leisure activities, or club members desiring premium level services, Kuwait Motor Town with its fully integrated portfolio of entertainment assets will create the upmost exciting and innovative automotive experience for the whole region.

31 Jan 2017

Kuwait Motor Town Race Circuit is Under Construction!

Last July I posted the video below as well as renderings of the proposed Kuwait Motor Town race circuit. Not only did the project finally get a green light, but construction is already on the way and 92% of the digging has already been completed. The video below for some reason has been circling social media the past week as if its something new but it’s not new and its no longer accurate. Kuwait Motor Town will be a world-class race tracking that will feature seven racing circuits. The track will be FIA Grade 1 circuit designed by TILKE, the same people behind a number of popular F1 tracks including Yas Marina and the Baku City Circuit. The circuit will be a state-of-the-art facility that is able to host Formula One and MotoGP races in the future. The project is being handled by the Amiri Diwan who are behind projects like Al Shaheed Park and the new cultural centre. The circuit is expected to be completed sometime next year and will be located off highway 40, across from Ali Sabah Al Salem. [Google Maps] The rendering on the very top of this post is currently the latest available rendering but it’s not the final one. I’m trying to get a hold of the final renderings but for now if you’d like to check out videos of the construction work and stay up to date on the project, check out the instagram account @afs_q80 I can’t believe we’re finally getting a race track in Kuwait and not just any race track but a state-of-the-art one. I guess I’m going to need to replace my Datsun with a new car I could use on open track days. This is so exciting!!! Update: I managed to get the latest renderings of the circuit from Ali Fawaz Al Sabah (@afs_q80) who is the president of the Basil Al Sabah Motor Racing Club. These are the latest but not the final final renderings since more modifications were made. Ali and his team have been working day and night on the project for 9 years trying to get it approved. In the visuals below you’ll find the karting, moto-cross, rally-cross, super-cross, 4×4 technical and ATV circuits as well as the main F1 and Moto-GP circuits. You’ll also see renderings of the mall and hotel. Once you click on a thumbnail you’ll see the description on the bottom left of the image.

21 Jan 2017

Kuwait: Projects awards rise to KD 2.25 billion in first half of 2016

KUWAIT, July 22 (KUNA) ­­ Kuwait's projects market continues to expand in spite of the backdrop of low oil prices and their impact on government finances. Kuwait awarded KD 812 million ($2.7 billion) worth of contracts in 2Q16, according to MEED Projects, bringing the total value of contracts awarded so far this year to KD 2.25 billion ($7.5 billion), said the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) in a report released on Friday By the end of June, Kuwait's projects market (active and planned) grew to KD 76.8 .billion ($255 billion), an increase of 2.9% year­to­date Looking ahead to the rest of 2016, Kuwait is expected to award another KD 8.4 billion ($27 billion) worth of contracts before year­end. Although Kuwait's project market faces many challenges on top of low oil prices, such as lack of FDI interest, a weak private sector and a less attractive environment than its neighbors, the economy is cash­rich and the government has an ambitious five­year plan that includes currently over 8 public private partnership schemes aimed at upgrading the country's infrastructure. According to MEED Projects, bids for the bulk of 2016's planned projects (44%) are currently under evaluation, followed by 27% that are in the main contract.bid stage which means that over 71% of the planned projects are within their final stage prior to execution :Below is a breakdown of major project developments, by sector: Oil & gas Following the awards of the two huge Clean Fuels Project (CFP) and New Refinery Project (NRP) in 2014 and 2015 respectively, the value of Kuwait's oil sector projects in the pipeline has begun to soften. Oil & Gas projects account for 27% of the planned projects in Kuwait for 2016, behind the transport and the Power & Water sectors. However that is not to say the Oil & Gas sector is slowing down, as Kuwait still has KD 2.3 billion worth of projects .to award this year In 1H16, Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) awarded a KD 882 million ($2.9 bn) contract to build the liquefied natural gas (LNG) Import and Regasification Terminal. However, Kuwait is also expanding domestic gas production with the tendering of the Jurassic Non­Associated Gas Reserves project in northern Kuwait. Kuwait Oil Company (KOC), the state's upstream operator, has tendered three contracts worth KD 1.7 billion ($5.7 billion) for .the development of the project, which aims at producing 10,472 tons of natural gas per day. In January, US firm Schlumberger was awarded the KD 144 million ($480 million) contract to develop the Sabriyah and Umm Niqa fields. Schlumberger also reportedly submitted the lowest bids for the East Raudhatain package & West Raudhatain package; however, according to MEED, it is unlikely for the company to win all three contracts as .the remaining two are still being evaluated. The two contracts are valued at KD 542 million ($1.8 billion) each KOC has also retendered the KD 240 million New Refinery FEED pipeline contract, which aims to connect the South Tank Farm to the New Refinery at Al­Zour. The contract has been retendered following parliamentarian.criticism of its initial tendering in 2015. Construction Kuwait awarded KD 570 million ($1.7 billion) worth of construction projects in the first half of 2016. The biggest and most notable award was for the New Maternity Hospital. The new 600­bed Maternity Hospital is to be built opposite the existing maternity hospital in Sabah Medical Area. The hospital is one of four that were tendered and then canceled in 2013 for being over budget. The contract has been awarded to Italian firm Pizzaroti for KD 219 million ($730 million). Under the direction of His Highness the Amir, the Amiri Diwan has taken on several key projects in Kuwait. The Diwan's project portfolio includes projects such as the new Al­Jahra Hospital, Al­Shaheed Park and Kuwait's two cultural centers (Abdullah Al­Salem & Jaber Al­Ahmed) set to be complete by year's end. On 20 June, the Amiri Diwan announced the awarding of a KD 49 million contract to local developer Bayan National Trading Company to design and build Kuwait's Motor Town. According to press reports the project aims at building seven race circuits compatible with international standards.These circuits would enable Kuwait to host Formula 1 and MotoGP races in the future. The project is located south of the city, in Orafjan, adjacent to the Wafra road. The contract also includes the construction of a pit building and a media center. According to press reports, the project is set to include a hotel and shopping mall at a later stage (not part of the current package). The Amiri Diwan has also recently taken over the Passenger Support Terminal Project at Kuwait's International Airport. The project was originally tendered by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) but ownership was transferred in May 2016 to the Diwan. The Passenger Support Terminal is supposed to accommodate 4.5 million passengers per year and serve as a quick fix while the New Airport Terminal is being constructed. The project (i.e.expansion) is expected to be operational 450 days from the signing of the contract, which is scheduled forNovember 2016 Power & water: Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (KAPP) has extended the deadline for three of its projects that were scheduled to be tendered this year. The main contract bid for the KD 450 million ($1.5 billion) Umm Al­Hayman Wastewater Treatment Plant has been pushed (three times) to 31 August, while the bid for the Kabd Municipal Solid Waste Project has been rescheduled to 28 July. Bids for the Al Abdaliya Integrated Solar Combined Cycle (ISCC) Power Plant (CSP) have also been pushed to 28 July. The project will see Kuwait utilizing solar energy and help reduce the level of environmental pollution. The project will be developed on an area of 2 km2. KAPP did announce the bids for the main contract bid for phase 2 of the Al­Zour North IWPP. The project aims at producing 1,800 megawatts (MW) of electricity and 464,100 cubic meters a day of desalinated water. Three consortiums involving 11 companies have submitted their bids, according to an announcement by KAPP on 21 .June, though no details were provided Kuwait's PPP plan is considered to be one of the projects market's main strengths, public private partnerships (PPP) were identified as one of the Chart 3: Planned projects for 2016 ($ billion). Kuwait is investing heavily in the transportation sector. The sector accounts for 34% of the value of planned projects in 2016. According to MEED Projects, Kuwait is planning the development of the North & East Regional Highway, a KD 517 million upgrade to roads that will facilitate the growth of inter­regional and international trade within the GCC states; the project includes various packages (not all have been announced). In May, local contractor Kuwait Company for Process Plant Construction & Contracting was awarded a KD 97 million ($324 million) contract for a renovated Road from Saad Al Abdulla area to Buhaith (north of Kuwait). The Ministry of Public Works is also evaluating bids for a KD 181 million ($ 600 million) road connecting Salmi (near the .Saudi Border) to the 6th ring road In late June, The Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) signed Kuwait's second largest contract so far this year. PAHW awarded the KD 288 million South Mutlaa City Major Infrastructure Works Package Contract 1 to a joint venture between Italy's Salini and Turkey's Kolin. The contract oversees the development of the main roads and infrastructure for the city, which is expected to house almost 30,000 residential units. The organization is also preparing to tender two additional roads and infrastructure packages for the project before year­end. (USD=KD 0.302). (end) fnk.rk

21 Jul 2016

Kuwait International Circuit Proposal

A design proposal for a local racetrack has been finalized and presented to the proper authorities for approval. The racetrack was designed by Apex Circuit Design, the same group behind the design of the Dubai Autodrome and the Bahrain International Kart Circuit among other projects. Based on the screenshots available, the project contains a FIA/FIM Race Circuit thats 5.65KM long along with a pit/paddock solution, hospitality for 5000 guests, 42 garage bays and is F1/MotoGP compliant. There is also a FIA/CIK Kart Race Circuit thats 1.39KM long, a 1/4 Mile 2 Lane Drag Strip, and Education campus and a Nordic Standard Road Safety Center. Not sure Kuwait will ever be able to host an F1 race due to the lack of alcohol, but a racetrack is still definitely something that is extremely important to have here so hopefully this project gets approved and implemented. Check out the leaked screenshots below:

20 Jul 2015