The world of motorsports has always been perceived to be the reserve of the elite and well-heeled, but that is changing. With a new set of rules in place, breaking into racing is within the aspiring petrolhead's grasp, says Alex Westcott.
I can hear the hum even as I approach the turn-off on Emirates Road. At first it is a soft drone, but as I approach my destination, the hum grows louder, heightening my anticipation of what I am about to witness and experience. The hum grows louder again as I drive under the track of the Dubai Autodrome. A frisson of excitement surges through my veins. I'm here for what I know is going to be the test drive of my life in a fully race-prepared Porsche 911 GT3.
This is the car that competed in the recently concluded UAE Touring Car Championship. Thankfully, given my lack of driving skill, the car will be driven by British/Pakistani driver Harris Irfan, who finished second in the championship (Class 2) last season.
Stepping out of my modest Peugeot 206 CC in the autodrome parking lot, I look around to find Porsches, Ferraris and Audis speeding across the asphalt somewhat smugly, exuding airs of 'We're hot, and we know it'. They are all making their way to the 5.39-km world-class track to embark on the adrenaline rush that comes with taking on the high-speed straights and technical corners of the Dubai Autodrome at an eye-watering 200km-plus an hour.
And I'm next.
Harris Irfan pulls up smoothly in the pristine piece of gleaming, fire red machinery, and it's plain to see why Porsches are show-stealers both on and off the track. Irfan helps me suit up with a full face helmet (fire-resistant), a hood and helmet support, which is to keep the weight of your helmet from breaking your neck in case you end up in a wreck. I gulp for the first time at this thought.
All clicks and locks in place, I climb into the bucket seat and I'm strapped in tightly. To get maximum power, the air conditioner is turned off, although at this stage I'm not sure if the sweat running down the nape of my neck is heat-related or excitement-induced. Irfan climbs in next to me and I give him the thumbs up, the tempo of my heart revving as the engine does the same.
Cruising on the Autodrome's asphalt is like climbing into a bed with silk sheets effortless and oh so inviting. Irfan is a master behind the wheel. I feel completely at ease, but he tells me that if I feel even the least bit queasy, I should signal for him to stop. And then we are off.
Within moments, the speedometer needle begins to climb up and up. The car begins to shudder almost imperceptibly with the intensity of the speed. The first corner looms ahead and I grip the side of my bucket seat, my knuckles white with anticipation. Approaching a sharp bend at that kind of speed is breathtakingly daunting. Irfan aims the nose of the car directly at the corner. The car accelerates for a moment, Irfan deftly shifts gears and we take the first hairpin bend in one smooth motion, the Porsche behaving as though it's running on rails. The sensation is amazing: my eyes feel as though they are about to explode in their sockets but I find myself grinning uncontrollably with pure exhilaration.
After five laps around the track it's easy to see why guys get so hooked on motorsports.
Climbing out of the car, sweating buckets though more from the rush than the heat I pull off my helmet, hair flying everywhere, and gasp like a cod fish that's been pulled out of water. One thing's for sure if racing (of course only in purpose-built areas) were more accessible to the average Joe, I might be sold for life. But I'm wrong in presuming that it's not racing is becoming more accessible, thanks to the new developments in motor customisation. And that's where Alex Renner comes into the picture.
Originally from Dresden in Germany, Renner is the owner of Alex Renner Motors (ARM) in Al Quoz, Dubai. His passion is race cars to be more precise, it's Porsche. He says he has always loved cars: "As a 17-year-old in Germany, I was a complete bike fanatic. I had initially planned to go to university, but I ended up going into the car business instead."
Renner started out as an apprentice in the maintenance of American sports and vintage cars, he went on to become a technical engineer and then a workshop supervisor. He moved to Dubai in 2001, where he worked as a foreman for a Porsche specialist. After six years, he set up his own business with the idea of specialising in Porsche maintenance and high-performance tuning.
But Renner's other speciality is body modification getting cars prepped to meet the demanding UAE Touring Car Championship (UAETCC) standards. Renner works tirelessly to make sure the car makes the cut by modifying suspensions, lightening the car and tweaking the engine to get it to the 600 horsepower mark required by UAETCC. This means that standard sports cars can be customised for track and race-day participation, an opportunity that was not previously readily available for the avid petrolhead who was keen to test his machine on what is considered to be one of the world's most modern and challenging tracks.
"Competition wise, the UAE is still in baby shoes," says Renner. "But because of the new rules set in place by the UAETCC, racing has been made more readily accessible for sports car owners. It is becoming easier for amateurs to pursue what may, for many years, have been a closet dream.''
But prepping a car is no easy task. ''In prepping a car, you have to destroy it as a road car. You have to install a fire extinguisher system, fit a manual cut-off switch and a roll cage with an additional sidebar. You will need to provide window stickers, bonnet and trunk pins, a new set of race-worthy tyres, a sports seat with brackets and a proper driver's seat belt," he explains of the mandatory upgrades required to get a sports car converted.
Apart from these adjustments and installations, there are other options available, such as installing a sports steering wheel, removing the interiors of the car, modifying the brakes and so on. There are also procedures which can be done to lighten the weight of the car.
Certain modifications can be made to the car to boost performance, such as installing a control unit modification, a catalytic bypass, an air filter and mufflers. Of course, as Renner points out, there are certain prerequisites that should be in place before getting you get your car converted, such as obtaining a racing licence and a medical certificate, among other things.
"Motorsports depend on a [large] budget and sponsorship can be difficult to come by. But racing is very rewarding... and like any hobby, you have to be consistent," Renner says.
Apart from converting cars into racing machines, Renner and his team also provide race day support, by giving full mechanical and logistical assistance during the event. ARM does pit lane supervision, offers technical expertise, provides mechanical tools, other specialised Porsche equipment and all required fluids for the automobile.
They also transport cars to and from the respective events; this essentially means all the driver needs to do is concentrate on his driving.
Renner says he is still learning, and on a daily basis. "I give my best advice. We were happy when Irfan came second in his class as it was our first race season. We didn't expect to get a win the first time, but things are progressing. It's a process of trying and testing and drivers are constantly working at improving. The world of motorsports is a community. Racing is time-consuming and can be time-demanding, and yes, it's going to cost you money. But to be part of it and to be a member of the community that has grown here in the Middle East and in the UAE, that is the greatest reward," he says.
And what of Renner taking the wheel? He smiles with a twinkle in his eye. "Someday soon," he says. "We'll see."
To discover your inner adrenaline junkie, head down to the Dubai Autodrome on an open day (visit www.dubaiautodrome.com for details). But one note of caution: do not race on highways or regular city roads. Leave it for the track.
For more information visit: www.armotors.ae.
