Children with special needs blaze down the track at 150km/h

Dubai: A team of top racing car drivers put a smile on children's faces at the Dubai Autodrome yesterday at an event organised by the Special Need Awareness Programme (SNAP).

Some 1,000 people participated in the event, 'Lap with Snap', to lend their support for some 200 children with special needs.

Mohammad Bin Sulayem, a 14 times FIA Middle East Rally Championship winner, and Shaikh Hasher Al Maktoum, Olympic golf medalist, together with a group of rally drivers took the children for a 150km/hr ride down the strip.

They also gave them thrill rides in autotest cars where they experienced a 360 degrees turn and some serious skid action.

Chris Wishart, a racing car driver known as the 'tuff man on the road', said he was happy to see the children enjoying themselves.

Theresa Gobbara, founder of the Special Need Awareness Programme (SNAP), said the aim of the event is to raise public awareness about people with special needs.

Amir Khouzam, a 15-year-old pupil, who participated in the event, said it is important to support people with special needs in the country.

"I came here as I believe that more light should be shed on special needs issues and such activities make people realise that people with special needs are not very different from the rest," he said.

Khouzam together with his school mate Justin Walsh are intending to go on a climbing trip to Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in July to raise awareness on the situation of people with special needs and lend their support to SNAP.

"We are hoping to put SNAP's banner on the top of Kilimanjaro to raise awareness about the group and special need issues," said Khouzam, adding that they are looking for sponsors for their trip.