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Expo patron Mohammed Ben Sulayem headlines ATCUAE season launch at Dubai Autodrome
Dubai, UAE, 17 September 2017: Aspiring racers crowded the race paddock at Dubai Autodrome for the return of the popular Emirates Motorsport Expo, organized in collaboration with Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) and the Dubai Sports Council.
Opening to the public on 2pm on Friday (15 September) at Dubai Autodrome with an expanded line-up of over 60 exhibitors, the exposition hosted attractions including track experiences, food trucks, racing simulators, a kart auction and car exhibits. Local racing teams and companies were on hand to offer a wide range of entry level opportunities for motorsport enthusiasts in all categories of UAE motorsport.
The ATCUAE Season Launch was central to the event, with Expo patron Ben Sulayem and a panel of guest speakers discussing the upcoming activities and opportunities in the local motorsport calendar.
Ben Sulayem said, “With such a large turnout of exhibitors and visitors, we have really seen a growth in Motorsport. This year’s calendar is a reflection of that growth with both national and international events. I look forward to the continued success of the sport.”
Also present on the top table were guest speakers of honour, Faisal Al Sahlawi, General Manager of Dubai Autodrome, and Al Tareq Al Ameri, CEO of Yas Marina Circuit. Highlighting the two circuits working together to meet the demand of motorsport interests in the region.
Other industry speakers included the Expo Director, David Bright, speaking on behalf of Dubai Kartdrome, Nila McCann for the ATCUAE, Rob Barff of Dragon Racing, Guy Sheffield of Rotax Max Challenge, Dominic Simon of the FIA F4 UAE Championship, Craig Thompson for Radical Middle East Cup, Phil Anson for IAME X30 Challenge and Phil Ellis for the TRD86 Cup.
Among the announcements was the return of the fan favourite NGK tracing series to the National Race Days. Returning for the sixth year running, and forming the core of local race weekends, the series features six categories of various racing vehicles, including GTs, touring cars, and the Clio Cup.
Al Sahlawi said, “With the six classes available and assembled into one incredible grid, the NGK Racing Series offers a great platform for drivers of various levels in their career to compete.”
The FIA F4 UAE Championship, in collaboration with the ATCUAE and AUH Motorsports, had a strong debut last season and now looks to expand its grid and bring in more racers from around the globe.
The TRD86 Cup will also make a comeback, and the series has now introduced an ‘Arrive & Race’ option, which allows drivers to simply show up on the race weekend and participate, without having to manage vehicle and team operations in between.
For two-wheeled track enthusiasts the UAE Sportbike Championship also returns to the season calendar, as well as the introduction of the Bahrain Superbike Championship on some rounds.
The starting point for most drivers is karting, and there is no shortage of competitions available for all ages. The Bambino Cup Racing Series, for ages five to eight years old, debuts this season, joining well established karting championships such as IAME X30 Challenge, Rotax Max Challenge, Sodi World Series Sprint Series, the Dubai Kartdrome Endurance Championship and the Dubai O Plate.
The Formula Gulf Academy (FGA) is back to help the next generation of racing superstars scale back on their karting development and move into formula single seater racing. Many of their young drivers also race in Europe and Asia, utilizing the FGA to get ahead in the off-season.
Renowned international championships will feature alongside local racing. The Lamborghini Super Trofeo Middle East will bring back the roar of Huracán Super Trofeos for the second year, the MRF Challenge also returns for another season, and the popular Porsche GT3 Cup Middle East continues to be one of the top tiers of racing available in the region.
The highlight of the mid-season will be the 13th edition of the Hankook 24H Dubai, featuring up to 100 race cars, from teams from around the globe, coming to Dubai Autodrome to challenge the legendary endurance race.
The season calendar for the off-road segment was also confirmed. Classics such as the Dubai International Baja and Emirates Desert Championship are set to return alongside rounds of the Dubai Motocross and Emirates Motorsports Club Autocross.
The UAE motorsport calendar has expanded considerably over the years and the industry supporting it continues to grow with it. The Motorsport Business Park at Dubai Autodrome, announced last March and due for completion in December of this year, is set to become the hub of motorsport business in the region.
Dubai Autodrome General Manager, Faisal Al Sahlawi said, “With the opening of the Motorsport Business Park, we hope to foster a unique motorsport ecosystem that will provide support and growth for the industry.”
Adjacent to the Business Park is the Dragon Racing facility, which is home to the new Emirates Motor Racing Academy, a motor racing school designed to train drivers of all levels and is full recognised by the ATCUAE.
There are plenty of events and initiatives for motoring enthusiasts to get excited about and the Emirates Motorsport Expo has developed to meet the growing interest.
Expo Director, David Bright concluded, “The atmosphere today was incredible and the race paddock was buzzing with activity. We were pleased from the tremendous turnout and support, both from the exhibitors and aspiring racers.”
“We were especially encouraged by the large numbers of Emiratis attending, and we hope to see many of them racing soon.” Bright added.
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]]>ABU DHABI DESERT CHALLENGE SET TO LAUNCH CLASSIC ADVENTURE FOR POWERFUL WORLD-CLASS LINE-UP
Saturday afternoon super special stage brings rally to life ahead of dramatic desert action in Western Region
Abu Dhabi, UAE, 31 March, 2016: The eyes of the cross country rallying world are on the UAE capital again as the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge POWERED BY Nissan prepares to launch another spectacular episode of World Cup and World Championship action.
Taking place under the patronage of H.H.Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Western region, the Desert Challenge is organised by the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE, the national motor sport authority.
The 26th edition of the event gets under way at 3pm on Saturday with a super special spectator stage at Al Forsan International Sports Resort in Abu Dhabi, before the rally sweeps out into the Western Region of Al Gharbia to cross some of the most dramatic terrain on earth.
A powerful line-up of 166 competitors from 36 countries have assembled at Yas Marina Circuit, the rally HQ, for the second round of the 2016 FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies and the opening round of this year’s FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship.
Heading the 62-strong cars category are Russia’s defending champions and top seeds Vladimir Vasilyev and Konstantin Zhilstov who are aiming to complete a hat-trick of successive victories in one of seven prototype All4 Racing Minis entered.
A press conference staged by the ATCUAE at Yas Marina Circuit today was attended by sponsors of the Desert Challenge as well as the participants in the event in order to announce the launch of the 26th edition of the rally.
“Once again we are indebted to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan, and to the Abu Dhabi government, for their consistent support over the years to make this an event known and respected worldwide,” said Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the ATCUAE.
“We’re very happy to welcome such a strong gathering of competitors, support crews, officials and media to the UAE. It means a great deal to me, to my team at the ATCUAE, our sponsors, and the many volunteers who give up their time each year and work so hard with us to make it happen.”
Al Tareq Al Ameri, CEO of Yas Marina Circuit, commented: “Being one of the world’s most prestigious international cross country rallies, Yas Marina Circuit is proud to support The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. Each year we look to play an ever increasing role, helping the ATCUAE ensure the rally continues to showcase Abu Dhabi as a world-class sporting destination.”
Samir Cherfan, Managing Director, Nissan Middle East, said: “The 26th edition of the Desert Challenge also marks the 13th year of Nissan’s involvement as strategic partner for the event. Nissan has a strong focus on motorsports in the Middle East and the Desert Challenge forms a powerful platform for us, particularly as it is regarded as the leading event in the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies.
“We look forward to continue our partnership and driving it to a new level. The Nissan Special Stage on the fourth leg, taking place on 6th April, will be arguably the rally’s toughest section, stretching across some 258 kms of the most testing rallying terrain available.”
Among the biggest rivals for Vasilyev’s driver’s Desert Challenge title are Qatar’s two-times Dakar Rally winner Nasser Al Attiyah, the UAE’s most experienced World Rally Championship contender Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi, Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed Al Rajhi and Finland’s 2012 WRC runner-up Mikko Hirvonen. Sheikh Khalid is a driving a new Abu Dhabi Racing MINI ALL4 Racing which he will unveil after today’s official press conference when joined by Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
The host country’s 18-car challenge also includes Yahya Al Helei who maintains his 100% appearance in the event as the eighth seed, while his son Mansour looks to capture the T2 production class title for the second year in a row. Also among the top ten seeds is female German driver Jutta Kleinschmidt, who remains the only woman to have won the Dakar Rally following her 2001 success.
With 42 riders from 12 nations assembled in Abu Dhabi and a first-time bikes champion guaranteed this time. Last year’s runner-up, Dubai-based British rider Sam Sunderland, is the top seed, followed by Chile’s Pablo Quintanilla who finished third 12 months ago, and this year’s Dakar Rally winner, Australian Toby Price, who is chasing victory on his Desert Challenge debut.
Top Emirati rider Mohammed Al Balooshi, who has a succession of Arab moto cross titles to his credit, is seeded fourth as he looks to build on successive sixth place finishes, while multiple Spanish and European motorcycle trials champion Laia Sanz, among four female riders in action, is seeded sixth.
The Nissan Patrol, the “Hero of All terrain in Life”, is positioned for the 13th year as the official vehicle of the event. The line-up of strategic sponsors and partners includes the Ruler’s Court in the Western Region, Western Region Municipality, Abu Dhabi Municipality, the UAE Army, Abu Dhabi Police, National Ambulance Service, Nissan, Yas Marina Circuit, ADNOC, Abu Dhabi Aviation, Tadweer (The Center of Waste Management – Abu Dhabi), Rotana and Centro Hotels – Yas Island, Qasr Al Sarab Resort, and DP World.
Saturday’s super special stage at Al Forsan International Sports Resort gives spectators the chance to see the cars, buggies, bike and quads surge into action in a race against the clock before the rally heads off into the desert plains and mighty dunes of the Western Region of Al Gharbia. The event finishes at Yas Marina Circuit next Thursday.
Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge POWERED BY Nissan – Rally schedule:
Saturday: Super Special Spectator Stage – Al Forsan International Sports Resort – start 3pm.
Sunday: Yas Marina Circuit Stage 1 (278km)
Monday: ADNOC Stage 2 (279km)
Tuesday: Al Ain Water Stage 3 (280km)
Wednesday: Nissan Patrol Stage 4 (258km)
Thursday: Abu Dhabi Aviation Stage 5 (234km)
Finish: Yas Marina Circuit – 4.30pm.
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ATCUAE President says volunteers are ready to play key role in F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Dubai, UAE, 17 November, 2014: Mohammed Ben Sulayem says UAE motor sport marshals are ready to prove themselves to be the best in the world at this weekend’s F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
After months of training and preparation by the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE, Sulayem says 650 volunteers – 15% of them Emiratis – are primed to play a key role in ensuring the climax to this season’s FIA F1 World championship Prix runs smoothly and safely.
“Our training team has worked hard to get the marshals ready for the big event and we’re very happy with the way they’ve responded,” said the ATCUAE President. “We have a great team of volunteers and I’m confident they’ll once again show that they’re the best in the world.”
“Our marshals come from 26 countries and we appreciate the way they all blend in and work together. The eyes of the motor sport world will be on Abu Dhabi this weekend, so this is a great opportunity for them to show how committed and disciplined we all are.”
For the last three years UAE marshals have been named by the FIA, the sport’s governing body, as the worldwide Volunteer of the Year
Managing the volunteer programme, which is so vital to the Grand Prix, is a year-round task for the ATCUAE, which works under contract to Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management as sporting organisers of the race and other year-round competitive events at Yas Marina Circuit.
In the countdown to the event, the Club stages five general training sessions for marshals, while training is more frequent for some of the speciality units, including the safety team, and the medical and rescue team who have been in action every Wednesday.
When F1 first came to Abu Dhabi in 2009, half of the 650 volunteers needed to help run the event had to be brought in from the UK. By then the ATCUAE had already launched an intensive marshals recruitment and training programme. The objective over five years was to build a fully UAE-based group of Emirati and expatriate volunteers to serve the needs of the Grand Prix, and motor sport in general in the Emirates.
Key to the ATCUAE programme was the establishment of the UAE Motorsport Marshals Club to build a national framework of volunteers and officials and run events.
The target was achieved two years ahead of schedule with the help of Takatof, the voluntary social programme designed by the Emirates Foundation for Youth Development to create a culture of volunteering.
Today, the club has more than 1,000 members made up of 26 nationalities, with 15% of those who will be operating at Yas Marina Circuit this weekend Emiratis.
“We’re proud to have been given opportunity by the Government of Abu Dhabi to work with ADMM to create one of the world’s premier platforms for F1 racing and other world-class competitive motor sport,” said Sulayem, the FIA Vice President.
“In the process we have achieved our initial targets in motor sport sustainability by building an entirely local-based team of officials and volunteers capable of handling the full spectrum of sporting responsibilities for the Grand Prix, and motor sport in general.”
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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.
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