Dubai: Mohammad Bin Sulayem, 14 times Middle East rally champion, survived a terrifying high-impact crash while driving a Renault Formula 1 car at the Dubai Autodrome last afternoon.
Participating in a drag-style shootout against a Ford GT, Bin Sulayem made a spectacular start but soon lost control of his car which swerved brutally to the right and slammed into the venue's wall.
The Autodrome's medical team rushed to the scene within 60 seconds of the crash and extricated Bin Sulayem from the car.
As onlookers watched fearing the worst, Bin Sulayem miraculously emerged unscathed and walked to a medical car after which he was rushed to the circuit's Medical Centre for a check up.
Bin Sulayem, who may have been saved because of the safety restraints in V8 car, was released after 15 minutes.
Tarik Ait Said, Renault F1 Team's F1 Events and Operations Manager, said: "Mohammad Bin Sulayem had earlier driven the car on a closed road successfully. At the circuit, conditions had changed dramatically, which resulted in the incident. Fortunately he was uninjured and the car will be taken back to be repaired."
Anthony Fernandes, press officer of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATUC), of which Bin Sulayem is the President, who witnessed the incident said: "It was a scary experience and I'm amazed Mohammad got out of it in one piece. "It was a miracle that he wasn't badly hurt."
Fernandes said Bin Sulayem was visibly shaken but took a philosophical view of the life-threatening episode. "He [Bin Sulayem] said things like this happen in motor racing - it was just one of those things. He's back home and resting."
Fernandes also said that Bin Sulayem was all praise for the Autodrome's recovery team.
"He said he had been looked after 'brilliantly' by the medical staff and wanted to thank them sincerely."
Bin Sulayem could not be reached for his comments immediately.
A spokesperson for the Dubai Autodrome said they will be investigating the crash but were not prepared to make a comment.
Thursday's event was part of the Formula One Renault Roadshow, which is being held under the patronage of Bin Sulayem, who is also the Vice-President of the Federation International de l'Automoble (FIA), the world governing body for motor sport.
The format of the day pitted Bin Sulayem, driving the Renault R28 which was famously raced by Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet Jr in the world F1 championship last season, against supercars driven by expert drivers.
The first run was the Formula 1 car up against the Ford GT, which was to be followed by a similar shootout against a Ferrari Enzo and McLaren SLR, all cars part of Bin Sulayem's personal collection of exotic sports cars.
Bin Sulayem is scheduled to attend a Renault sports car event at the Dubai Mall today, along with Piquet Jr. Fernandes said that it will take place as planned.
