Sport | Motorsport
Toyo Tires race to liven up weekend
Dubai Autodrome chairman Saeed Khalfan yesterday hosted a press conference at the Dubai Autodrome for the fourth running of the Toyo Tires 24 Hours of Dubai, which will be held at the Autodrome this weekend.
- Staff Report
- Published: 23:38 January 7, 2009
Dubai: Dubai Autodrome chairman Saeed Khalfan yesterday hosted a press conference at the Dubai Autodrome for the fourth running of the Toyo Tires 24 Hours of Dubai, which will be held at the Autodrome this weekend.
Practice and qualifying runs for the event will take place today, while the event proper will start at 2pm tomorrow and finish on Saturday.
The race will be held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and the President of Dubai Autodrome.
At the press conference, Khalfan, on behalf of the Dubai Autodrome Board, announced that shortly before the start tomorrow, a two-minute silence will be observed as a sign of respect for the victims of violence in Gaza.
The race will be started by the FIA vice-president and ATCUAE president, Mohammad Bin Sulayem, who will flag off a field of 80 cars for what promises to be an exciting race.
Khalfan said: "As the world experiences a downturn in economic fortunes, it is refreshing that more than 80 teams are making the trip to our shores to compete in what is the first major international racing event of the year.
"It is a tribute to the strength of this event and the fortitude of organisers Creventic. We, in turn, are confident that our state-of-the-art venue will once again accommodate everyone comfortably while providing a platform for high-class racing."
On the grid will be Dubai-based teams, including a number of Emirati and GCC drivers, which will fuel local interest.
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