Twenty-six teams from fifteen countries to showcase advanced robotics technologies at first-of-its-kind contest in the region

Abu Dhabi, March 5, 2017 – Under the prestigious patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Abu Dhabi will be hosting the first edition of the Mohamed Bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge (MBZIRC) from March 16 to 18, 2017 at the Yas Island Marina Circuit. The event is organized by Khalifa University and is sponsored by the Information and Communication Technology Fund (ICTF) as a Strategic Sponsor, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) as a Platinum Sponsor, and Norinco as a Gold Sponsor.

The debut contest is the first of its kind in the region, and the biggest of its kind worldwide. It provides a strategic platform for highlighting the latest developments in the field of robotics and will feature 26 teams from 15 countries. The innovative competition will see unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) work with, and against each other, in a series of challenges.

The biennial competition aims to extensively promote the capabilities and uses of robots and reveal their advanced technological capabilities in the areas of navigation, cooperation, perception, and maneuvers using integrated ecosystems. It will host elite designers, innovators, and programmers from different universities and robotics organization around the globe.  Winners will be awarded total prize winnings and team sponsorship worth USD 5 million – one of the biggest prizes in the world for such an event.

Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Khalifa University’s Executive Vice President, said: “This challenge is an excellent opportunity for the participating teams to present new and innovative technologies in the robotics field that build on ground-breaking developments over the past decade. It provides an ideal platform to attract the world’s brightest minds in robotics and stimulate further developments that will lead to more new innovations and discoveries in this field. Through MBZIRC, we hope to solidify the leading position of Abu Dhabi and the UAE as global hub for creativity and innovation. We are very proud of this contest which embodies our commitment to advancing research and development in the engineering and technology fields.”

MBZIRC comprises three challenges plus a triathlon-type Grand Challenge incorporating the previous challenges. A total of 26 teams have been chosen out of a field of 134 candidates representing a number of academic and industrial organizations. Among the academic institutions joining the upcoming challenge are the University of Seville, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Virginia Tech University, Beijing Institute of Technology, Paris – Saclay University, University of New South Wales, University of Applied Sciences Aachen, and King Abdullah University of Sciences and Technology.

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 Sulayem presents trophies as UAE’s world class rally reaches climax at Yas Marina Circuit

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 3 April, 2015:  The 25^th Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge POWERED by Nissan came to a climax with a glittering gala dinner and prize giving ceremony at Yas Marina Circuit.

ATCUAE President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Tarek Al Ameri, CEO of Yas Marina Circuit, presented trophies to the winners in all categories at the conclusion of the event, which was held under the patronage of H.H.Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Western region.

The winners included Russia’s Vladimir Vasilyev, who captured the cars title for the second year in a row, and Spain’s Marco Coma who secured the Desert Challenge bikes crown for the eighth time.

Two trophies went to UAE competitors, with Ahmed Al Fahim taking winning the T3 buggies  category and fellow-Emirati Mansour Al Helei capturing the T2 production class cars title. Qatar’s Mohammed Abu Issa won the Desert Challenge quads crown for the second time in three years.

The Desert Challenge was the second round of this year’s FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies for cars and the opening round of the FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship for bikes.

The Nissan Patrol, the “Hero of All terrain in Life”, was positioned for the 12th year as the official vehicle of the event.

The line-up of strategic partners included 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, Al Ain Mineral Water, Abu Dhabi Waste Management, Rotana and Centro Hotels – Yas Island, Qasr Al Sarab Resort, Explorer and DP World.

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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.

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Sulayem highlighted as brilliant example to FIA Institute academy hopefuls aiming to develop careers

Dubai, UAE, 30 September 2014:  Young drivers aiming to boost their motor sport careers in Abu Dhabi this week were told today that the way they handle sponsors, and media, can make or break their hopes of reaching the top.

The 13 candidates competing at Yas Marina Circuit for a place at the 2015 FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy were given the alert by Tom Onslow-Cole, one of the panel of experts conducting sessions at the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia qualifying event.

Organised by the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE), the event will select one of the ten young drivers worldwide who will earn a place in next year’s fully funded Academy programme to develop young talent and promote safety in motor sport.

According to Onslow-Cole, a professional racing driver now competing in the British GT Championship, ATCAE President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the FIA Vice President, is an ideal role model for the young hopefuls.

“Mohammed is a brilliant example to young drivers trying to create a career in motorsport,” said Onslow-Cole a professional racing driver now competing in the British GT Championship. “His attention and focus on his off track duties were definitely a strength in his career.

“The level of awareness of the importance of nurturing both sponsorship and mediavaries from driver to driver, but there is always something more they can learn. This is an integral part of the sport and one that can make or break any career.

“It’s often the case that a driver will work tirelessly to secure a dream sponsor, but then lose focus on the deliverables of the deal once the racing gets underway.”

Sulayem, who captured 14 FIA Middle East titles during a record-breaking rally driving career, was as accomplished in the way he handled sponsors and media as he was in winning events and championships.

Onslow-Cole is instructing the young drivers on how to develop sponsorship so that it not only continues year on year, but grows, as well as on becoming media friendly and on career planning and strategy.

“In my experience, planning is usually the missing link,” he says. “Drivers don’t always know where they are heading. If you don’t know where or what you’re aiming for, then it’s difficult to know what you’ll need to do and be to get there.”

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 and Lebanon’s Patrick Njeim. The other drivers  are from Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia and Georgia.

On the final day of the qualifying event tomorrow (Wednesday), ATCUAE Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sean Petherbridge will deliver a presentation on the FIA Institute’s ‘Race True’ Anti-Doping campaign.

Later, 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.

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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.

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