Life & Style | People
Race you there
I always felt that I could communicate with automobiles. As a child I used to talk to cars, and I always wondered why they never spoke back.
- By Zafar Ghori, Dubai-based freelancer
- Published: 22:48 July 2, 2009
- Image Credit:
Basil Shaaban, Formula-3 driver
I always felt that I could communicate with automobiles. As a child I used to talk to cars, and I always wondered why they never spoke back.
I was born in Beirut and brought up in Abu Dhabi.
My family was forced to flee Lebanon because of the conflict. Both my parents are well educated. My mother is very loving and my father is a driven and hardworking person. My upbringing combined the emotional and the rational influences from my parents. These proved to be influential factors that helped me to develop in my formative years. They instilled in me a hunger for knowledge and exploration.
I did my schooling in the UAE.
I graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a major in astrophysics and a minor in civil engineering. Astrophysics has helped me understand the complex aspects of the physical world. It helps me when I have conversations with my engineers on the car I race, and it helps me to develop the sport. Astrophysics is something that is very close to my heart, and years from now you will probably find me on the roof of my house gazing at the stars.
In 1997, a year after I went to America, I decided to take up go-karting.
I bought a 100cc race-kart and began competing in Northern California. Even though I was keen on the sport and the career possibilities in racing, I did not ignore my formal education.
There was a lot about driving that I did not know, so I worked at becoming more knowledgeable.
I began watching Formula 1 as often as I could, then, during my second year at university, I took up racing professionally.
Being a UN world youth ambassador of road safety allows me to educate the public.
Through this campaign I try to educate the public about the fact that there is a crisis in the region in terms of road fatalities and injuries, and that it can be prevented if we employ certain strategies.
According to the WHO statistics, road deaths are the sixth most common cause of death in the Middle East. Those in the age group of 10 to 29 are the most likely to be involved in a road accident.
Within this group, males are the most likely to be involved in accidents. Europe was once in a similar situation, but through consistent public awareness campaigns, legislation and programmes in schools, it saw a significant decline in the number of road fatalities and injuries.
Being a Formula 3 driver I'd like to do all I can to help alleviate this problem and inspire youngsters to be more responsible drivers on the road. The main reason for the high rate of road fatalities is lack of proper education and awareness. We need to educate the population, beginning at the school level.
The youth need to understand that safety comes first.
Negative reinforcement by law enforcement authorities is a must for reckless drivers. Young males throughout the world want to prove that they are the alpha males on the roads and so they take risks without caring for their own safety.
It won't be easy to change their mindset completely, but what we can do is create avenues for them to express this 'machoism' in a safe and productive way.
For instance, we could establish more high impact sports here, including drag event motor sports and racing circuits. The one in Fujairah is an example. These tracks could act as vents for those who want to push their limits.
Once these channels are established, I feel that they would encourage the youth to drive more safely on public roads. That said, I cannot emphasise enough the fact that there is nothing macho about driving your car above the speed limit and risking your life, and that of others.
Formula 3 is a training ground for Formula 1.
An F3 car is 93 per cent the size of an F1 car. The main difference is that cars in F3 have restricted engines to keep costs low and are similar to the others on the track, which puts a greater emphasis on the driver and closer competition.
I have a few track achievements to date.
In 2004, I raced in the Formula Renault 2000, and in the US and Formula Ford 1800 in the UK. I also became the first Arab to win a Formula Ford 1800 in Europe. In 2005 and 2006, I raced for Team Lebanon in the A1GP World Cup of motor sport, and won Lebanon its best result ever.
Despite the accolades I brought to the region, it was tough getting started.
I was unable to find a sponsor who was willing to support my racing career. I finally got my break in 2006, thanks to Shell. I feel the support system for youth in the region needs work – be it any field, from the arts to business to racing. We need to start providing the youth with some support, because there is a lot of potential in this part of the world.
I have nicknamed my car 'baby'.
I am with the Prema Powerteam, which is one of the top three teams in the F3 Euro series. I am on a mission to become the first Arab to race in Formula 1. It has never been done before, and I know it is a huge responsibility. However, I would like, through hard work and a positive attitude, to take on this honour and privilege, because I want to achieve something that few others with my background have managed to.
My family is very supportive of me.
You will often see them in the paddocks supporting me. My most loyal supporter is my youngest brother, Farah. Nadim, my older brother, used to give me toy cars when I was a child, and in many ways he acted as a catalyst for my love of cars.
My role model in the field of Formula 1 is undoubtedly, Michael Schumacher.
Five years from now I see myself, like him, in a strong and stable Formula 1 team and doing a lot of things from a social and educational point of view. In short, I have a packed agenda.
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