Sulayem says Polykarpou has chance to take motor sport career to another level after topping regional qualifier at Yas Marina Circuit

Dubai, UAE, 1 October 2014:  After three days of tests and evaluations at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit, Panikos Polykarpou of Cyprus won a major boost for his motor sport career today by gaining selection to the FIA Institute’s 2015 Young Driver Excellence Academy.

Polykarpou earned his place in the fully-funded 2015 Academy programme based on his overall display on the track, in the classroom and in the gymnasium during the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia qualifying event at the home of November’s F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

He now has the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of previous Academy graduates who have gone on to greater things, including World Rally Championship drivers Andreas Mikkelsen, Pontus Tidemand and Craig Breen, and Formula One reserve drivers Alexander Rossi, Stoffel Vandoorne, and Robin Frijns.

While Polykarpou grabbed the top prize, there were no losers in Abu Dhabi, as each of the other 12 young drivers who had been nominated by the national motor sport authorities in their own countries gained invaluable knowledge and experience to help them in their careers.

“I’m very happy to win, especially as I felt a lot of tension on the first day, ” said the 23-year-old Polykarpou, who was warmly received as the winner by Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE, organisers of the selection event, one of six being staged worldwide on behalf of the FIA Institute.

“I have learnt a lot this week, and I’m very excited to be going through to the Academy because I will be among the best young drivers in the world and it can do a lot for me in my career.”

Sulayem, the FIA Vice President, said: “We were proud to have been chosen by the FIA Institute to host this event for the second year in succession. It is a great tribute to the UAE’s status in motor sport, and to the wonderful facilities here at Yas Marina Circuit.”

“The Academy will give Panikos a great opportunity to take his career to another level, and it’s up to him now how far he goes. At the same time, each of the other drivers have gained a great deal of valuable experience and knowhow that can help them in their careers.”

On the final day of the selection event the 13 drivers were quizzed by the judging panel, consisting of the FIA Institute’s Kate Robson, ATCUAE Motorsport Director Ronan Morgan, and professional racing driver and instructor Tom Onslow-Cole.

Six drivers were then chosen for a shoot-out, with Polykarpou – a finalist in Abu Dhabi last year – being joined by the UAE’s Mansour Al Helei, Kuwait’s Ali Makhseed, Lebanon’s Patrick Njeim, Petr Borodin from Kazakhstan and  Shalva Tsikhelashvili of Georgia. They each set off on timed laps of the Grand Prix circuit in the brand new high performance Nissan 370Zs used throughout three days of driving tests, courtesy of Nissan Middle East.

Ultimately, the choice of Polykarpou as the regional winner was based not only on the shoot-out and all-round driving skills displayed over the three days, but also on physical fitness, mental sharpness, and ability to deal with the pressures and responsibilities faced in top-level motor sport.

Sulayem said: “There were no losers here, and I’m very pleased to see that Mansour Al Helei showed so much improvement on last year and gave such a good account of himself to reach the final stages this time.” Beginning in November, the next Academy provides a fully-funded training programme which develops young talent and promotes safety in motor sport.

Sulayem says competition at Yas Marina Circuit will be tough for place in

FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy

Dubai, UAE, 28 September 2014:  Performances on and off the track at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit this week could help carve out an exciting future in motor sport for one of 15 young drivers assembled from around the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia.

Over the next three days, the candidates for a place in next year’s FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy face a thorough examination not only of their driving skills, but also of their ability to handle the physical and psychological demands of professional motor sport.

“Any young driver aiming go get to the top must be highly disciplined and committed in many ways, and we’re going to find out this week who has what it takes,” said Mohammed Ben Sulayem President of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE.

“It’s going to be a demanding three days, and the driver who comes out on top will have to work hard on and off the track to win the big prize at stake. They all know that the Academy can do an enormous amount for a young driver’s career, so competition will be tough.”

The Academy has driven a number of its graduates to high places, with Andreas Mikkelsen, Pontus Tidemand and Craig Breen emerging in the World Rally Championship, and Alexander Rossi, Stoffel Vandoorne, and Robin Frijns becoming Formula One reserve drivers.

The ATCUAE is staging one of the six regional qualifiers worldwide that will deliver ten drivers into the fully funded 2015 Academy programme, which develops young talent and promotes safety in motor sport.

Among those battling to win the one Academy place available in Abu Dhabi this week are  the UAE’s Mansour Al Helei, Kuwait’s Ali Makhseed, Oman’s Anas Al Raeesi, Jordan’s Nabeeh Muammar, Lebanon’s Patrick Njeim and Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah El Khereiji.

They were joined at an official reception in Abu Dhabi tonight (Sunday) by the nine other regional candidates, Panikos Polykarpou (Cyprus), Ahmed Sherif (Egypt), Seyedmahyar Mirmoradi (Iran), Petr Borodin (Kazakhstan), Ismail Hassine Tadlaoui (Morocco), Suleiman Abdelmunim Suleiman (Sudan), Ahmad Krizan (Syria), Bardo Ben Abdallah Sofien (Tunisia) and  Shalva Tsikhelashvili (Georgia).

Following a friendly karting event later at Yas Race School, the serious business begins tomorrow (Monday) morning with the first in a series of driving exercises, followed by off track sessions on career management and physiological and psychological testing.

The driving sessions, using four brand new Nissan 370Zs provided by Nissan Middle East, are being managed by Saeed Al Mehairi, an instructor at Yas Marina Circuit, and Mohammed Al Mutawaa, who became the first Arab driver to be admitted into the Academy in 2012. He now competes with Abu Dhabi Racing in both the FIA Middle East Rally Championship and the FIA World Rally Championship.

Taking charge of the physiological and psychological testing are sports scientists Professor Gareth Davison from the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, and Dr. Tadhg MacIntyre from the University of Limerick in Ireland. Completing the team of experts is Tom Onslow-Cole, a professional racing driver now competing in the British GT Championship, who will conduct sessions on media training, sponsorship and career development.

On Wednesday, a judging panel consisting of the FIA Institute’s Kate Robson, ATCUAE Motorsport Director Ronan Morgan and Onslow-Cole, will interview each of the drivers. The top five selected based on overall performance during the week will then tackle a timed lap of the Yas Marina Circuit prior to the winner being announced.