Motorsport in the Middle East has evolved exponentially since the Tripoli Grand Prix of 1925. Last year, two Formula One showpieces, a region-wide rally championship and a wealth of sprints, drag races and karting competitions, cemented the Arab world's position as a key cog in the motorsports wheel in the modern era.
However, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the Emirati FIA vice-president who today publishes a 17-page dossier entitled 'Driving Motorsport Forward Together', insists the region must now unite if it is to continue its development and avoid stalling. "This report was a necessity," Ben Sulayem said of the document, which is the result of 10 months' research. "You cannot even start to think about the future without a solid plan of action.
"How can you improve if you do not understand how things work?" The strategic study, the first of its kind in this region, is a blueprint that spans the next four years and what Ben Sulayem believes is necessary to see even more progress made in the region. One of its key conclusions is that synergy between the various countries' national motorsports authorities (ASNs) and respective clubs must improve as they each pursue common goals, while it also highlights the need to develop greater participation at grassroots level and proposes the creation of new pan-regional competitions.
Ben Sulayem, as part of the report, sent a survey to all eight automobile clubs who host a round of the Middle East Rally Championship (MERC), as well as Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Saudi, a future MERC host, did not respond, while Bahrain, home to the region's first Formula One grand prix, declined their involvement on the basis of confidentiality. "The potential is there," said Ben Sulayem of the region's motorsports future.
"But we have problems that we must address. The lack of cooperation between countries is the biggest issue - and it's not because they don't want to talk to each other, but rather because somebody needs to take the initiative. We need to work together." Ben Sulayem, who is also president of the UAE's Automobile and Touring Club, constantly has to juggle his responsibilities in order to remain neutral and objective on all matters.
The 48-year-old, however, insists, regardless of his dual positions, it is in the best interests of the region for each country to develop young talent, a feat that can be achieved quicker through the establishment of further championships - although not necessarily Formula One. "Motorsport is more than just F1," he said. "The investment in racing is there, we now have to nurture it, promote it, utilise it - as an UAE national and FIA vice-president, that is very important.
"I am a big believer that karting has a massive future in this region. The UAE has the most number of karting tracks in the region and it is an affordable sport, so is able to attract more interest. "By investing in karting, new, young talent will emerge and that is something that we desperately need. The average age of our drivers is too high - in their forties - so we must find new blood," he said.
Karting has proven in Europe to be a good way of discovering talented drivers, who hone their racing skills there before moving up through single seaters towards Formula One and other series. Michael Schumacher, the seven-times Formula One world champion, came from a karting background, while fellow current racers Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello and Jarno Trulli also used their ability in a kart as a stepping stone to greater things.
Khaled al Qubaisi, the 36-year-old Emirati driver who competes in the Porsche Supercup series, which is one of the regular support series to Formula One, said uncovering young local talent is essential if the region is to prosper and believes, ultimately, it could result in lower costs too. "Right now if you want to join the UAE Championship or the MERC, it costs a lot of money ," said Al Qubaisi.
"So by introducing low-cost series such as karting, the talent pool will be bigger and the drivers will be more experienced when they start thinking about making the step up. "It makes sense and it is great because it not only shows foresight, but it also proves people are thinking about working together collectively as a region, which can only help motorsport in the Middle East." In recent years, with Bahrain and Abu Dhabi both hosting Formula One races, and the UAE capital vying directly with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for a position on the World Rally Championship calendar, there has been murmurings of infighting.
Ben Sulayem insists, though, that competition for sporting events is beneficial. "It is totally natural - even brothers compete between themselves," he said. "It has to be there and it is healthy competition. What happens in Bahrain is our concern also: not just the tracks, but also in terms of exchanging expertise and experience. We can help each other and both parties understand that. The UAE has held motorsports events for 33 years so is often looked towards to set an example, but other countries, such as Qatar, help us too: If they push, it helps us grow quicker."
Al Qubaisi agrees. "We see Jordan has WRC and now Abu Dhabi will hopefully be on the calendar next year. We also have two grands prix now," said Al Qubaisi. "What I would like to see though is a unification in other types of racing. "You don't see so much unified championships across the region - but that will involve money to get them off the ground and that, in turn, involves media backing and sponsorship funding. We all have to work collectively."
The strategic study was based on a consultative meeting in Qatar involving delegates from all the key Middle East countries involved in motorsports as well as informal interviews with key regional stakeholders, including Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management. A further follow-up meeting with Middle East delegates will be held in Beirut next month, but Ben Sulayem is adamant that the most important conclusion is that any future developments are led by the sport's current and future spectators in the region.
"Imagine the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix without the fans: it would be nothing," he said. "You can have the best circuit in the world, but without the fans it is useless." @Email:gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
