A good thing for motor racing

Seven years ago, a Thai firm was set up to assist those who want to participate in car racing but do not have the wherewithal to do so. Now, the races organised by the AIM Racing Project Company are a big crowdpuller in Thailand. The concept could be tried in the UAE too

AIM Racing is a Thai company dedicated to motor racing and to creating an opportunity for budding young drivers to develop their skills without having to find huge sums of money.

The founder of AIM Racing is Prutirat Rattanakul Sarerangrit, a pioneer of Thai motorsport and winner of many SE Asia championship races in the 90s during his active racing career.

Founded in 1995, AIM Racing Project Company encourages the development of local racing teams to a high overall standard. The most significant aspect in recent years has been the introduction of the AIM Concept Car.

The Concept Car is a single-seater racing car designed and built in Thailand by AIM Racing. The heart of the new car is a Toyota 1.6-litre, DOHC, 16-valve, EFI, 4-cylinder engine (type 4A-GE) pulling 130 hp at 6,400 rpm.

Drivers and teams competing in the annual AIM Concept Car race series can either purchase a car or rent a car on a race-by-race basis. The rental system obviously is attractive to teams with limited budgets and who cannot afford the capital investment of a brand new car of their own.

Novice drivers who use the rental system also qualify for expert tuition from AIM race driving instructors as part of the package.

AIM Racing organises the entire championship, hires one of the several racing circuits in Thailand for the weekend and stages the races, not only for the Concept Car series but also for a saloon car series.

The success of the project can be assessed by the huge crowds that turn up every race day and the full grids of competitors lining up to take the start.

This type of project would have a very good chance of becoming successful in the UAE as well. All it needs is an enthusiastic entrepreneur who understands motor sport and who is willing to make an investment in the facilities required.

That would include a circuit built to FIA standards for safety but not to accommodate Formula 1 races as that would be a prohibitive cost in this part of the world. Over the years there have been endless rumours of Grand Prix racing being held in the Middle East but, as yet, they have been groundless.

At present there is no 'tradition' of circuit racing in the Middle East – all motor sport is related to rallying through the Middle East championship series, the UAE Desert Challenge as a round of the FIA's World Cup for Off Road Rallies and national rally championships in different countries.

A local racing circuit project would need racing cars too. In addition to single-seater racing, one would imagine a saloon car series being staged in parallel.

Monthly races during the winter months (from October to March) would provide a great spectacle for local spectators and a challenge to some of our young would-be racing drivers who, at present, seem to practise driving (too) fast on the highways!

Good idea? I think so.

Specifications of AIM Concept Car

Engine
Model: 4A-GE
Type: DOHC 4-cylinder 16 valve
Capacity: 1,587 cc
Compression ratio: 9.8:1
Bore: 81mm
Stroke: 77mm
Max horse power: 130PS at
6,400 rpm
Fuel system: EFI

Car
Chassis: Chrome molybdenum steel and aluminium tubing
Front/Rear suspension: Independent, push rod activated torsion spring. Double wishbones
Dampers: Bilstein gas
Wheels: 6.5" x 15"
Tyres: SLICK 19/57-15
Brakes: Four discs – 4x2 piston callipers
Steering: Rack & pinion
Driver's seat: Anatomically formed composite
Seat belts: Four-point safety harness
Fuel tank: Aluminium with safety cap
Gearbox: Manual 5-speed
Clutch: Single plate
Dimensions: Length: 3,900mm
Front track: 1,610mm Rear track: 1,650mm
Height: 1,100mm
Weight: 600 kg
Manufacturer: AIM Racing Project (Thailand)