Wednesday 03 / June / 2026
Muscat: International Omani racing driver Al Faisal bin Khalid Al Zubair officially unveiled his new season program alongside his new Ferrari 296 GT3 during a special evening hosted by Ferrari Oman, represented by Al-Fardan Motors, in Muscat, attended by partners, media representatives, invited guests and motorsport enthusiasts.
The evening featured the unveiling of Al Faisal Al Zubair’s international GT3 racing program for the 2026 season, alongside the presentation of Al Manar Racing’s new strategic direction, commercial partners and digital platform developed in collaboration with Omani technology company Rihal — marking another important strategic step for the team as it continues strengthening its international presence during one of the strongest periods in its sporting history.
The launch comes at a time when GT3 racing continues to witness rapid global growth, becoming one of the most competitive categories in motorsport while attracting leading automotive manufacturers, professional drivers and international brands across Europe and the Middle East.
Al Faisal Al Zubair will begin his season this coming Saturday and Sunday at Misano Circuit in Italy in a sprint racing event alongside Italian driver David Fumanelli, with technical support from Dragon Racing. Al Faisal will compete in the PRO category.
The season program also includes participation at Circuit Paul Ricard in France from July 17–19 and Monza in Italy from September 25–27, while the final event of the year will take place during the Qatar endurance race from December 11–12.
Earlier this year, Al Faisal and Al Manar Racing also competed with the Ferrari 296 GT3 in Abu Dhabi, securing second place in the PRO category, in addition to participating in the Dubai 24 Hours.
Over the past 15 years, Al Faisal Al Zubair has built one of the most accomplished careers in Omani motorsport, achieving more than 110 podium finishes across several international racing categories while steadily progressing through highly competitive professional environments.
The 2025 season marked the strongest period of his career to date after securing 15 podium finishes alongside a historic overall victory at the Dubai 24 Hours — becoming the first Omani driver to achieve an overall win at the prestigious international event during its 20-year history.
Today, Al Faisal Al Zubair also remains the only Omani and Arab driver competing within the Gold category in GT racing — one of the sport’s highest professional classifications — positioning him as the most advanced Omani driver currently competing internationally within modern GT3 racing.
During the 2026 season, Al Faisal will continue competing internationally under the Al Manar Racing banner through a selected GT3 program featuring both sprint and endurance events, further reinforcing Oman’s growing presence within international motorsport.
A Long Journey
Speaking during the event, Al Faisal highlighted the importance of consistency, discipline and long-term development while representing Oman within highly professional international racing environments.
“This long journey has always been built around continuous development, learning and representing Oman in the best possible way internationally. GT3 racing today represents one of the most advanced and competitive environments in motorsport, and we are proud to continue building our presence within it alongside our partners and supporters, to whom we extend our sincere appreciation. We also look forward to achieving even stronger results during the coming journey,” said Al Faisal Al Zubair.
Al Manar Racing Partners
Ferrari Oman, represented by Al-Fardan Motors, continues its partnership with Al Manar Racing through a collaboration connected to high-performance culture and international GT3 racing.
The evening also marked the official introduction of Al Faisal Al Zubair as ambassador of SHELL V-Power Racing 98 in Oman, with a series of collaborative activations and public engagement initiatives expected to roll out throughout the season across digital, media and on-ground platforms.
Omani technology company Rihal was also introduced as the team’s Official Digital Partner, supporting the development of Al Manar Racing’s new digital ecosystem and modern online platform aimed at strengthening communication and engagement between the team, its partners and motorsport audiences.
The evening additionally featured the unveiling of Al Manar Racing’s new digital platform and website developed in collaboration with Rihal, alongside the presentation of Al Faisal Al Zubair’s 2026 international racing calendar and the announcement of several partnerships and initiatives to be activated throughout the season across media, technology and fan engagement platforms in Oman.
As part of his wider community efforts, Al Faisal Al Zubair will also begin his role as ambassador for Dar Al Atta’a, supporting initiatives aimed at assisting families in need across Oman. In addition to carrying the organisation’s logo on the Al Manar Racing car, Al Faisal is also expected to participate in selected initiatives and events supporting the organisation’s humanitarian mission.
Industry observers continue to note the increasing value of international motorsport platforms as tools connected to media visibility, youth engagement, innovation and international commercial positioning — areas increasingly associated with modern GT3 racing.
For Oman, Al Faisal Al Zubair’s continued international participation today represents the evolution of a modern Omani platform extending beyond racing itself — combining international competition, strategic partnerships, digital engagement and growing regional and international visibility, while also supporting meaningful local collaborations and community-focused initiatives beyond motorsport.
The 2026 season officially begins with Al Faisal Al Zubair’s first international appearance at Misano Circuit in Italy this June, followed by further European GT3 appearances later in the season.
