Motorsport Stakeholders gather to set 2016-2017 Calendar 02.05.2016: Ben Sulayem: Our goal is to sustain and build on the success achieved in motorsport throughout

Ben Sulayem: Our goal is to sustain and build on the success achieved in motorsport throughout the years



The Automobile & Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) recently held its annual motorsports calendar meeting with representatives of all national venues and championships, ahead of the start of the 2016-17 season in October.


The meeting was convened by H.E Mohammed Ben Sulayem, Chairman of the Emirates Motor Sport Federation (EMSF) and President of the ATCUAE, and was chaired by ATCUAE General Manager Ronan Morgan.


Representatives speaking on behalf of Dubai Autodrome, Dubai Kartdrome, Yas Marina Circuit, Al Ain Raceway, Al Forsan International Sports Resort, RAK Track, Dubai Motocross Club, Emirates Motorsport Club and the Emirates Motor Sports Federation have all now presented their respective events for inclusion in the final calendar for 2016-2017.


“We have an increasingly busy motorsport season in the UAE, totaling well over 100 events, and it requires a substantial amount of planning and scheduling to fit everything together.


New events, such as the FIA UAE Formula 4 Championship, are welcome additions to the calendar, but provide us with a happy headache of having to cram more events than ever into a calendar that grows year on year, and is by far the busiest in the region”, said Ben Sulayem. 


“We are pleased to welcome the representatives from all our stakeholder clubs and facilities, and we look forward to another year of cooperation towards our objective of creating a growing, but sustainable motorsport industry in the UAE”.


The UAE motorsport calendar comprises of national, regional and international events, including everything from club rallies and motocross rallies, to the pinnacle of the sport, such as the season highlight of the 8th Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix, scheduled to take place at Yas Marina Circuit from the 25th to 27th November 2016.


However, Ben Sulayem was keen to stress that it is not the big international events that are his priority, but in fact the grassroots level events that take place in the country.


“Events like Formula 1 bring prestige for the nation and are great for the spectator and we make sure that it sustains its top level achieved throughout the past years, but my priority is to help develop the next generation of competitors in the UAE, because, without the drivers and riders, these events cannot take part.


One particular program that I am personally excited by is the Emirates Schools Karting Championship, which just concluded its first season at the Dubai Kartdrome.


This project aims to introduce the sport of karting, universally recognized as the best entry point into motorsport, to hundreds of UAE school children each year.


It is fantastic to see these young people become enthused by motorsport, and this is what will make our sport sustainable for the future.


 I would encourage all schoolchildren, parents, teachers and schools to take part in the second edition this coming season”, concluded Ben Sulayem.


The formal calendar for the new season is expected to be finalized in the weeks to come.



 Sura Manhal, Automobile and Touring Club of UAE