Claypaky lights Qatar Motorsport Festival
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Qatar Airways, winner of multiple Skytrax Airline of the Year awards and the title sponsor of three Grand Prix events this year, was named the global partner and official airline of Formula 1 racing through the motorsport’s 2027 season. To mark the announcement and to celebrate the F1 events coming to Qatar in 2023, Qatar Airways invited VIP guests and 50,000 spectators to a special evening on Lusail Boulevard featuring F1, drift cars and a MotoGP bike racing down the strip and a display of a FIA World Endurance Championship hypercar.
The event, which followed the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, highlighted Qatar as a hub for global sporting events and the growing motorsport presence in the state.
Qatar Vision, which offers a comprehensive slate of event production, technical integration solutions, marketing, creative design, video production, information technology and large scale branding to a roster of clients, was charged with creating a combined private and public event that was impressive, surprising, spectacular and original. They transformed Lusail Boulevard into a big motorsport circuit show using their expertise in operational and logistical planning and full capabilities in all event areas to deliver an unforgettable experience.
Lighting designer Syam Gopinath selected 100 Claypaky Xtylos, 100 K-EYE K20 HCR, 100 Scenius Unico, 50 Sharpy Plus Aqua, 50 Sharpy Plus and 25 Mythos 2 fixtures for the lighting rig.
“Once again Claypaky was our go-to lighting for a high-profile event here in Qatar,” says Sharif Hashisho, Qatar Vision’s CEO/managing director and the event’s creative concept designer and executive producer. “Claypaky fixtures always come through for us and help us create memorable experiences for our clients.”
Qatar Vision replicated a proper motorsport racing circuit on Lusail Boulevard with 35,000sq.m of Qatar Airways and F1 branding fabric decorating structures, fences and bridges. They installed a complete PA system, 900 moving and static lights, 12 powerful lasers, 14 giant public viewing screens, 1.5 kilometers of fireworks above the buildings plus grandstands, stages and vehicle paddocks.
The Welcome Reception for VIP guests and international media included live music and a Supercars parade and exhibit. The partnership announcement featured an interactive Launch triggered by Qatar’s Minister of Sport, the Formula 1 president, MotoGP president and the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation president. They activated a spectacular synchronised multimedia show combining CO2 jets, special effects, fireworks, and a lights and laser show down the entire 1.5 km strip.
The event received extensive global media and social media coverage. Last year Qatar Vision produced the spectacular 25th Anniversary celebration of Qatar Airways at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, where Claypaky fixtures also dominated the lighting rig.
