Name: Faisal Al Shamsi
Nationality: Emirati
Claim to fame: First person to receive a scholarship from the Yas Drag Racing Academy.
Other job: Pilot in the UAE Navy
Before the scholarship
Up until now I've had to make do with working by myself, building my own car and tuning my own engines. It's expensive and finding sponsors is hard. Fitting this around work is tough. I got my first car from a scrapyard in 2006 for Dh2,000. I made Dh85,000 worth of modifications and won my first race at Umm Al Quwain Motorplex in 2007. Now I'm hooked.
What happens now
Now I'm going to be coached by Rod Fuller, one of the world's best Top Fuel drivers. He holds the world's third fastest time and has won races in all drag racing classifications across North America. He's widely respected, you couldn't ask for a better personal trainer.
The point of it all
Hopefully, if I am successful in my scholarship, I'll have the opportunity to race as a professional in the US, representing the UAE. But I have a lot to learn first. My immediate goal is to win the super comp category at the next Yas Drag Racing Festival. The sport is popular here and it is growing thanks to the new facilities. I'd just like to prove to youngsters that it can be done, so long as they learn to race safely and responsibly on the track and not on the roads.
Not so simple
Drag racing is harder than just driving fast in a straight line. The start requires lots of different actions and intense concentration. You have to manage steering, concentrate on the lights, hold the brakes, shift gears and push the nitros at precisely the right time. Even the slightest mistake leads to an accident or blows the engine. You're subjected to G-forces of two to three while accelerating.
The dangers
All motorsport is dangerous, so safety is key. Yas Marina is the first venue outside the US to work under National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) rules. Safety standards are of the highest calibre, which makes this a great place to come and race in safety.
