Dubai: From promoting road safety to promoting the DVD release of Disney·Pixar's Cars 2, Emirati racing driver Haytham Sultan Al Ali has done it all. The 20-year-old kart racer was the first Emirati to sign up for the new Formula style of racing when it was first introduced in the UAE by GulfSport Racing to bridge the gap between karting and the larger, more powerful open wheel racing series.
And while Al Ali will be racing in the Formula Gulf Championship this weekend at the Dubai Autodrome on November 4 and 5, he continues to play his part as a role model for youngsters.
On Wednesday, Al Ali joined the Disney team to celebrate the movie release at The Toy Store, Mall of the Emirates, where the life-size star race car of the movie, Lightning McQueen, was unveiled. The partnership will see Disney Pixar Cars 2 branding on Haytham's race car when he races this coming weekend. "I'm so honoured to be a part of this event with Disney and Rotana Home Entertainment.
"This is an excellent way to partner with the team who brings you this highly acclaimed, No 1 animated movie of the year. It is about racing and cars, two of my favourite interests," Al Ali said.
"I also hope to be able to bring the message of road safety to children and young adults, and to keep fast driving for the race track, just like Lightning McQueen," he added.
Charbel Azar, Marketing Manager of Rotana Home Entertainment, said: "It is a great honour to have Haytham as part of the event. He is an inspiration to the Emirati youth and a promoter of safe driving, setting an example to all."
The public will have the chance to see the life-size Lightning McQueen car and meet Al Ali in person at The Toy Store, Mall of the Emirates on Friday, November 4 from 6pm-9pm.
The many facets of Haytham
Al Ali is a 22-year-old Emirati racing driver from Umm Al Quwain. By day he works as a UAE Immigration officer. Alongside this, he is studying part time for his bachelor's degree at Jazeera University in Dubai.
He is racing a single-seater series in the UAE Formula Gulf Championship. He is also active in karting championships both in the UAE and Europe and regularly represents his country at this level.
He is actively involved in road safety campaigns where he uses his motorsport racing as a tool to educate children and young drivers about speed and accident risks. As a UAE road safety ambassador he encourages young people to visit the race tracks in the UAE to develop their skills in motorsports.
