Dubai: The UAE’s Mansour Al Helei will look to take another important step in his motorsport career in Abu Dhabi next week, when he competes for a place at next year’s FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy.

The Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) has selected Al Helei to represent the nation in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia regional qualifying event for the 2015 Academy.

Fifteen young drivers from around the region will take part in the event, which is organised by the ATCUAE and takes place at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit from September 28 to October 1.

At stake is a place in next year’s fully funded Academy programme, which develops young talent and promotes safety in motorsport.

Al Helei is aiming to become the second Emirati, and the third Arab driver, to go to the Academy after fellow Emirati Mohammad Al Mutawa in 2012 and Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Bamogaddam, who came out on top in Abu Dhabi last year.

“The FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy has proved to be very successful in developing the best young talent for careers at the top level of motor sport,” said ATCUAE President Mohammad Bin Sulayem, the FIA Vice-President.

“Competition for the one place available in Abu Dhabi will be fierce and, regardless of who wins, each of the drivers taking part will gain a great deal of knowledge and experience to help them in their own careers.”

Al Helei first came to the fore as co-driver for his father, Yahya, one of the UAE’s desert rally specialists, in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. He then stepped into the drivers’ seat for the next three editions of the demanding World Cup cross country rally, finishing a creditable 14th last year.

This year he has continued his development as member of the six-car Abu Dhabi Racing team in the FIA Middle East Rally Championship, contesting the Junior and 2WD series.

Among those also hoping to come out on top in Abu Dhabi will be Kuwait’s Ali Makhseed, Oman’s Anas Al Raisi, Jordan’s Nabeeh Muammar, Lebanon’s Patrick Njeim and Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Al Khereiji. The other countries represented are Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Morocco, Sudan, Syria and Tunisia.

The regional qualifying event will consist of a series of demanding tests on the track and in the classroom at Yas Marina Circuit.

Open to nominated drivers aged 15 to 23, it is one of six regional qualifiers worldwide that will deliver ten drivers into the 2015 Academy programme.

Previous Academy graduates include Formula One reserve drivers Alexander Rossi, Stoffel Vandoorne and Robin Frijns, and World Rally Championship drivers Andreas Mikkelsen, Pontus Tidemand and Craig Breen.