Abu Dhabi: Following a momentous debut World Rally Championship (WRC) season, the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority has revealed the all-new BP-Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Championship Team car - complete with UAE capital livery- to the world's motor-sport media at the Autosport Show in Birmingham, England.
"For eight rallies last year our WRC partnership with reigning champions BP-Ford saw the Abu Dhabi name engage a worldwide television audience of more than 800 million. This compelling mechanism will continue to demonstrate the appeal of Abu Dhabi, and its evolution into one of the Middle East's fastest-growing business and leisure destinations," said Shaikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.
The sleek new Ford Focus RS WRC07 was officially unveiled by Mark Deans, Ford of Europe's new Motorsport Director, and Malcolm Wilson, Team Principal, BP-Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team.
Mikko Hirvonen is promoted to the lead car following WRC legend Marcus Gronholm's retirement at the end of last season.
Exciting talent
BP-Ford Abu Dhabi's strategy to develop new, exciting talent will see Jari-Matti Latvala - the rapid 22-year-old Scandinavian - occupy the second car after switching from the Stobart team, where he drove a privately-entered Ford Focus. Latvala's co-driver will be fellow Finn, Miikka Antilla. The WRC strategy to develop young, hungry talent mirrors Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority's Middle East Rally Championship Junior Driver Development Programme - an inspirational scheme for aspiring Emirati drivers to hone their skills in Team Abu Dhabi, the MERC outfit.
Shaikh Khalid Al Qasimi - the UAE driver who competed in four WRC events last year as part of the ADTA-Ford partnership - acts as role model for the development programme's proteges.
Al Qasimi will compete in 10 events in the 2008 calendar, an amazing opportunity to test his skills on various surfaces - and in front of thousands of spectators - which the Emirati is relishing.
"I can't wait to start my first full WRC season in the new Abu Dhabi car, it looks fantastic, it is faster and lighter than the model I drove last year," said Al Qasimi.
