UAE set for new motorsport season

Dubai: A splurge of new entries particularly from European teams is expected to light up the Dubai Autodrome Motoring Club (DAMC) season when it gets under way at the Dubai Autodrome racetrack next weekend.

"We are eagerly looking forward to another exciting motorsport season after a hot and long summer," Saeed Khalfan, Chairman, Dubai Autodrome told Gulf News at a conference yesterday.

The first races of the season will be the UAE Touring Car, the UAE Sportscar and the UAE Sportbike Championships to be held on October 8, followed by the second Dubai Autodrome Race Day that will also include the UAEGT Championship and the brand-new Suzuki Swift Cup and the Formula Gulf 1000 Series on October 22.

"When we get our season off to a start, the rest of the world, particularly Europe is taking a break and that has helped us project Dubai as a fresh destination for these teams and cars this season," Khalfan said.

"These teams, drivers and staff are seriously looking at Dubai as an alternative destination to race during the off-peak season and there cannot be something more exciting than this," he added.

Contrary to expectations following the economic recession sweeping through the world, motosport in the UAE is still witnessing a huge boost with a phenomenal increase in the number of competitions.

"Agreed that motorsport as a whole has taken a bit of a hit due to the economic situation, but I doubt that is true here in the UAE, if we have a look at the growth we have recorded this season," Khalfan said.

"And if we are to compare last season to this year, we can safely say that we will be much bigger and better this time," he added.

As per the calendar lined up there will be action over 11 weekends, of which three will be held at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi.

"Not only do we have a close working relationship with Yas Marina we also have a better involvement from a lot of other government agencies in the UAE," Khalfan said. FIA vice-president and ATCUAE President Mohammad Bin Sulayem, who was unable to attend, said:"We look forward to a great season of motorsport. We have some established categories which have grown from strength to strength and some new categories that will encourage new talent."

CALENDAR

• (October 8) National Races: UAESCC, UAESBC, UAETCC - Dubai Autodrome DA Club
• (October 22) National Races: UAEGT, UAESBC, UAETCC, SC Dubai Autodrome
• (November 4-5) Motorsport Festival: All Classes Dubai Autodrome
• (November 26) National Races: UAEGT, UAESCC, UAESBC, SC Dubai Autodrome
• (December 16-17) National Races: UAEGT, UAESCC, UAETCC, SC Yas Marina
• (January 27-29) Fun Cup Support: UAESCC, UAESBC Dubai Autodrome
• (February 10-12) National Races: UAEGT, FG1000 Yas Marina
• (February 25) National Races: All Classes Dubai Autodrome
• (March 10-11) National Races: All Classes Dubai Autodrome
• (March 24-26) National Races: UAEGT, UAESCC, UAETCC, SC Yas Marina
• (April 15) National Races: UAESBC, UAETCC, SC, FG1000 Dubai Autodrome
•  2011 International Races:
• (January 13-15) Dubai 24 Hours: 24H Classes Dubai Autodrome
• (January 27-29) Fun Cup Weekend: Fun Cup Class Dubai Autodrome

KEY:

• DA = Dubai Autodrome circuit
• UAESCC = UAE Sportcar Championship
• UAESBC = UAE Sportbike Championship
• UAETCC = UAE Touring Car Championship
• UAE GT = UAE GT Championship
• FG1000 = Formula Gulf 1000 series run by GulfSport
• SC = Suzuki Swift Cup run by Zengo Motorsport