Life on the fast lane

Abu Dhabi: For all those who want to experience the thrillsof driving at over 300 km/h on the very tracks that champion F1 drivers have raced on, the Yas Marina Driving School promises a "once-in-a-life-time adrenaline rush that will never be forgotten".

You don't need to have the skills of an F1 driver, all you need is a driving licence, training shoes, a minimum height of 160csm and a maximum weight of 105kg, be above 18 and not only can you experience and smell burning rubber but you can also end up with a valid racing licence!

Saeed Al Muhairi, a budding UAE racing driver who doubles up as an instructor at the Yas Driving School said that the school has been very popular ever since it was launched last year and so far over 450 have got themselves assessed and a majority of them have been given their racing licences.

"The Yas Driving School was launched in June, 2010 and since then we have about 14 instructors active during weekends and official holidays as amateurs, motor-racing fans and aspiring racing drivers have experienced what is one of the best driving facilities in the world," Al Muhairi said.

"Options available include the rare experience of driving an Aston Martin GT4, the Yas Supersport SST and the awesome feeling of being in a Formula Yas 3000 — a single-seater thoroughbred racing car," he said.

"Apart from those who just seek driver experience in our range of racing machines we also have an assessment course after which one can obtain a racing licence in just one day from the ATCUAE. This licence will allow such drivers to take part in national events and set them up for further progress in the exciting world of motor racing," said Al Mehairi.

The driver's experience varies from between Dh1,000 and upwards while the assessment test which leads up to a racing licence costs just Dh1,500.

"We have had some 450 take these one-to-one assessments and many have obtained their racing licence from the ATCUAE. They don't just come here, jump into the car and take our tests. There is an instructor who gives a one-to-one tuition session and this could be more depending on the applicant's progress. The instructor will then deem if one is ready for the test," he said.

Discuss performance

Explaining how the test pans out, Al Muhairi said, "The driver is briefed on the car and the correct racing line before heading out onto the circuit for the first session of 15 minutes with a qualified instructor.

"Back in the pits the instructor will discuss the applicant's performance and decide how to improve lap times before heading out on to the circuit for a second session during which the instructor drives and compares the difference between the applicant and a professional driver and provides a chance to practise everything one have learned," he said.

"In the third and final 15-minute session the applicant drives again and after that the instructor decides whether the applicant's circuit driving has developed to an extent that he is ready for the test," said Al Muhairi adding that these sessions may increase depending on the applicant's ability and progress.

It does not take great skills for one to test one's skills as well as just drive and experience the fascinating array of cars at the Yas Driving School on the Yas Marina Circuit which has been dubbed one of the best racing tracks in the world.

"We are the only one in the Middle East with this kind of facilities and maybe the only one in the world who have such cars. You might find driving schools but none with such a high class facility," claims Al Muhairi.