After a successful motoring season that saw the UAE enter into history books by hosting the inaugural Formula 1 Grand Prix, celebrated Emirati rally ace says the country is firmly in the fast lane.
In an exclusive interview with Alrroya.com, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who is also the President of the Automobile and Touring Club (ATCUAE) of the UAE and Vice President of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile commonly referred to as the FIA, said the busy year-round motoring calendar only reinforces the fact that UAE has grown to be the region’s ultimate motorsport hub.
“The UAE is certainly at the forefront of motor sport activity in the Middle East,” says Sulayem, adding, “But at the same time we are very happy to see the sport grow and prosper across the region and are always ready to support our friends and colleagues in other parts of the Arab world.”
As the official representative in the UAE of both the FIA - the world governing body of motor sport - and the (La fédération internationale de motocyclisme) FIM - its counterpart in motor cycling - the ATCUAE oversees more than 120 events a year, but for Sulayem, everyday is just another normal day in the office, exemplified by his love for motoring.
“Motor sport has grown in the UAE in many ways. In the late 1970s and early 1980s there was basically just rallying,” he says.
“These days, we have karting, drag racing, hill climbs and a variety of motor bike activities such as moto cross, and of course circuit racing which started with the arrival of the Dubai Autodrome and has continued with the emergence of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit. That’s how motor sport started here,” he explains.
Yas Marina plays host to international races
Despite having been newly launched, the Yas Marina Circuit has continued to play host to international races, as part of a year round calendar of world-class entertainment.
The circuit recently saw a successful run of GP2 Asia race, V8 Supercars Australia Championships and the Drag Racing Festival, which saw the launch of Yas Marina Circuit’s Drag Racing Centre. The racing centre will host regular events where the public will get a chance to race their own vehicles.
This month, Sulayem will host the FIA GT1 Championship, which will feature internationally-known champions of the world’s top sports car series.
“The sport will continue to grow as the UAE continues to develop. There will be more events, and more venues, but the important thing is that everything is done the right way,” says Sulayem.
“Our job as the representative of the FIA and the FIM is to make sure that every event is run to the standards laid down by the governing bodies of the sport, particularly in relation to safety. It’s in everyone’s interests that we do that.”
Abu Dhabi is also a growing force in the World Rally Championship, and for the first time later this year, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, the capital is preparing to host a candidate event for a place in WRC.
Vehicle safety should be top in motor industry
Another race event that has proved to be successful over the years is the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. The race in the vast desert plains in the western region of the capital saw a thrilling show last week that attracted top rally drivers around the world.
At the event, Sulayem endorsed Nissan’s flagship Patrol SUV and named it the ‘Hero of all Terrain’ for the seventh year running.
“We have a very good relationship with Nissan and therefore it was important for us to have the support of a major manufacturer which wanted to work closely with us to build on the success of the event,” he says.
“This partnership has put a fleet of Nissan Patrols at our disposal and they have been set to very good use each year to help us map out the route for the event, which crosses some of the most demanding desert terrain in the world,” adds Sulayem.
According to the rally ace, “the Nissan Patrol performs well in the toughest conditions and handles a wide variety of tasks that are crucial in the staging of the event like this.”
As a car enthusiast, Sulayem did not shy away from commenting on Toyota’s recent global recall of some of its vehicle models due to problems involving sticking accelerator pedals and brake systems.
Sulayem called on manufacturers to ensure thorough checks on all vehicles before they are released in the market since “the important thing is that any problems with the vehicles are resolved before any of them are taken out on the road again.”
“Safety has to be the top priority for the motor industry,” he adds.
“The industry as a whole should never lose sight of the need for maximum efficiency through every phase of the manufacturing process to ensure that vehicles which roll off the production line are 100 per cent roadworthy,” Sulayem says.
F1 not spared by global financial slowdown
On the issue of massive withdrawals of F1 partners following the 2008-2009 global financial downturn, Sulayem said the ‘bump’ was expected but was optimistic that the industry would rise up and that better days lie ahead.
Last year saw the pullout of German motor manufacturer BMW and Honda from FI, other entities merged and also the elite rally group experienced legal fallouts among some of its top executives.
“There was going to be a problem in Formula One even before the global financial crisis came along. The costs had been escalating out of control for some time. The economic problems the world has been facing over the last couple of years brought everything into focus, and the withdrawal of teams from F1 was a big warning,” Sulayem says, adding, “But there are a lot of things that can be done, and are being done, to save money, and as long as we remember the lessons that we’ve learned in recent years, the sport still has a bright future.”
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