things have loosened up in Qattar- while most expats do live on guarded compounds, they are allowed to drive, and most women can go out in groups- they are even allowed ( the expats) to drive themselvs. They are still expected to dress modestly and most of them cover their hair because of the dust, so yes I probably might have been able to attend the race with a group of women, but would have felt extremely uncomfortable alone unless I had a male ( husband or guard) companion. we were in the arab type countries in the mid 70's and moved progressibely westward after that, ending up in the netherlands in 2004.