Dubai: American John Sinders has travelled halfway around the world to realise a dream - he wants to see drivers from the UAE and the Gulf rise up to international level.
"I would love to have at least two cars in two different international series with all drivers from the UAE or the Gulf region. That's my aim, and if it gets off and running, then it will be a living a dream," Sinders of Khaleji Motorsports told Gulf News.
For the American driver, coming to the region has been a journey. His passion is motorsport, but his business involves shipping. And though the two possibly have nothing in common, he is there as one of the ardent promoters, and all for the love of the sport.
His Khaleji Motorsports has already drawn three UAE drivers on board - Shaikh Hasher Al Maktoum, Karim Azhari and Tarek Al Gammal. And Sinders expects some more to come along - provided, of course there is adequate supply of funds for his project.
Since he moved his shipping business here two years ago, things have never been the same as he has gone all out to identify and encourage drivers from the UAE and the Gulf.
His karting programme would start off with as many as 20 drivers with the more gifted elevating to a higher stage.
His association with motorsport has been long, having been involved with the consortium that ultimately bought out Aston Martin. His passion for the sport made him get a licence and try his hand at stock racing back home in the US.
But after he moved his base here, Sinders found that he could contribute in more ways than one by helping a national cause. "At first it was only an idea, but it is a passion now," he said.
He has a plan in place. "We could possibly do six races on the international circuit and that would cost between $3 $5 million (Dh11 Dh18 million) a year," Sinders stated.
However, that is also where his major problem lies at the moment - Khaleji Motorsports has not been able to raise the funds necessary to fuel their ambitions.
"Yes, the major problem is funds. There are local companies out there who need to be tapped. Maybe we need to go about in a more structured manner, but the fact is that we need to bring in the funds needed for the programme," Sinders observed. "When we talk about the Gulf or the Middle East, it is always for its oil or something related to war and fighting. Why can't people think about this region as normal, and why can't we change this association with a motorsports team that would compete at Silverstone, at the Spa or at Le Mans?" Sinders asked.
Khaleji Motorsports has already been approached to get a UAE licence for the A1 Grand Prix. "But I doubt anyone would sponsor that much here," Sinders shrugged.
