Doha: Qatari racer, HE Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani will compete in the 44th World Powerboat Championship, set to take place in the United States from November 2 to 9. Supported by Qatar's Ministry of Sports and Youth, HE Sheikh Hassan will race alongside his British co-driver Steve Curtis in the Extreme class in Key West, Florida.

According to Qatar News Agency, the Qatari duo conducted preliminary tests off the coast of Orlando in recent days as part of their intensive preparations for a return to international powerboat racing after an 11-year absence. The renowned Race World Offshore Key West features three main races. The program will begin on Sunday evening with the traditional city parade, followed by a mandatory safety dive test for all participants on Monday morning, ahead of technical inspections and official registration.

Official practice runs are scheduled for Tuesday, with the first Extreme class race taking place on Wednesday for the Truman Cup, followed by additional testing on Thursday and the second race on Friday, November 7, as part of the Southernmost Continental Championship. In remarks to the press, HE Sheikh Hassan expressed his satisfaction with the team's preparations, saying the initial trials were successful and boosted confidence ahead of the competition.

"Our goal is to reach the podium and raise Qatar's flag high in this major championship, which gathers some of the world's best racers," he said. "I have great confidence in our performance, especially with the strong understanding I share with my co-driver Steve Curtis, built over many years in powerboat racing." HE Sheikh Hassan and Curtis previously made headlines in 2014 when they set a world water speed record of 392.68 km/h during the 26th annual Lake of the Ozarks Shootout in Missouri.