Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Racing has roped in National Health Insurance Company Daman as partners to establish a driving academy to groom young Emiratis as professional racing drivers.
The first batch of the seven young UAE aspirants selected on the basis of their go-karting skills for the Daman Speed Academy will begin an eight-month training programme at Yas Marina Circuit immediately after this weekend’s Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The academy concept and programme were outlined at an official press conference yesterday by Khalid Al Qubaisi, managing director of Abu Dhabi Racing, and Dr Sven Rohte, chief commercial officer, Daman.
“The main objective is to offer a very high level of training to develop the driving skills of young UAE nationals and prepare them for careers as professional racing drivers. Our ultimate dream is to have an Emirati F1 driver,” said Al Qubaisi, whose daughter Amna Al Qubaisi has also been selected for the programme.
“My daughter is also a big racing enthusiast and she has been behind me to start something like this for the last three years. So that was also an inspiration for me to start something like this. Hopefully these youngsters including my daughter can make the most out of it,” added Al Qubaisi.
The main aim of the academy is to produce a new generation of racing drivers to compete at international level in motorsport disciplines ranging from karting to single-seaters, GT and endurance racing, and rallying.
“What we are looking here is not just driving. We are looking at a complete package. We will try to cover every aspect of the sport and groom them for the future. There is lots to learn in racing more than just driving. The main objective is to offer a very high level of training,” revealed Al Qubaisi, adding, “These youngsters will become junior ambassadors for their country and role models for other young Emiratis, working to promote the leisure, sporting and business attractions of the UAE, as well as its culture and heritage.”
A prize fund is being set up to provide the drivers with sponsorship to compete in local and international race series in order to gain experience and further develop their capabilities. The academy’s long-term objective is to deliver the first Emirati Formula 1 driver, in doing so creating a legacy to inspire the nation’s youth.
Dr Rohte said: “We’re delighted to be partnering Abu Dhabi Racing in this bold new initiative. As a national, socially responsible company, we pride ourselves on helping to create a bright future for the nation through actively supporting UAE youth across a range of initiatives designed to help them unleash their true potential. The Daman Speed Academy is designed to captivate young Emiratis and harness their skills.”
The selected youngsters are: Abdullah Al Noohi, 17; Mohammad Karmostajji, 16; Shaikh Khalid Al Nahyan, 15, Amna Al Qubaisi, 13, Mansour Al Suwaidi, 13 and Ahmad Al Hameli, 13, all from Abu Dhabi, and Saeed Al Ali, 14, from Dubai.
