Sport | Motorsport
Dream comes true for young drivers
For Mohammad Al Mutawa'a, 15, Mohammad Al Awadi, 16, and Saeed Al Muhairi, 21, this weekend's racing in the new Formula Academy Euro Series will be a revelation and a dream come true.
- By Alaric Gomes, Senior Reporter
- Published: 00:35 April 26, 2008
Dubai: The first real batch of aspiring Formula One UAE drivers has announced their arrival.
For Mohammad Al Mutawa'a, 15, Mohammad Al Awadi, 16, and Saeed Al Muhairi, 21, this weekend's racing in the new Formula Academy Euro Series will be a revelation and a dream come true.
This is the third year for the HSBC Racing Academy based at the Dubai Autodrome. And in all three years finding a genuine young driver was a challenge.
But this year they have managed to find two teenagers and the third has just celebrated his 21st birthday.
"Most of them are too old to do any racing," Saeed Khalfan admitted during a press conference for the past batch of drivers.
Proud
"One of them is married and has children, and the other three continue to participate in local racing in the UAE," he added.
However, Shaikh Hasher Al Maktoum, who belonged to the first batch of the HSBC Racing Academy, has done well to migrate to the challenging Speedcar Series matching his skills against the likes of former champions such as Johnny Herbert, Jean Alesi, Narain Karthikeyan and his mentor David Terrien, who doubles as the drivers' coach at the HSBC Racing Academy.
"And this is just one reason we feel proud that we went ahead and launched this academy. We have seen Shaikh Hasher grow as a driver and be there among the legends," Khalfan said.
"And as the years have gone by, we have seen the crop of drivers growing younger. This is how we know we are headed in the right direction," Khalfan added.
Arriving at such a selection was no easy task for the five-member panel led by Terrien.
Best drivers
Last season's driver Khalid Al Mutawa'a - who will be travelling with the new batch this season - was joined by former drivers Rami Azzam, Mohammad Al Abdooli and Thani Bin Thani - the final three who made the grade from the 850 who attended trials this season.
"We chose 30 of the best drivers based on various aspects, and from this number we chose nine of the best drivers for an intensive training programme spanning more than two months," Terrien said.
"So when we showcase these three drivers, we know that they are the best in the country at this moment.
"No doubt the challenge is huge and it's going to be tough.
"But it's not wrong to have expectations from these youngsters," added the Frenchman.
The three drivers left last week for this weekend's opening race to be held in Ledenon, France.
Share this article
More from Motorsport
More from Sport
Popular in Sport
-
Sport
A round with Pacquiao
In the ring with Manny Pacquiao to see what makes this boxer tick
Sport Editor's choice
-
'We'll play like world champions'
Afridi confident Pakistan can win against New Zealand in Twenty20 matches
-
Underdog Cotto exudes confidence
Puerto Rican ready for speedy Pacquiao in Saturday's welterweight bout
-
Excitement building ahead of qualifier
There is nothing bigger than this, team's captain Nelsen says ahead of Saturday's sellout playoff against Bahrain
