Preview Speedcar & National Racing at Dubai Autodrome^® on 27 & 28 February
UAE drivers set to battle for top honours as they take centre stage this weekend 

Dubai, February 24, 2009: Under the patronage of Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Executive Council and the President of Dubai Autodrome His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum this weekend’s international motorsport feast at Dubai Autodrome, featuring Speedcar and National Racing over the two days, provides a platform for UAE drivers to shine. In all the categories (Speedcar Series, UAE Touring Cars, UAE Sportbikes and Gulf Radical Cup) there are Emirati competitors capable of stepping onto the top tier of the podium. The weekend promises to showcase the fast emerging local motorsport talent on an international stage.

All eyes will be on local hero Sheikh Hasher Al Maktoum who will driving for the formidable Team UP squad in the Speedcar Series races. Hasher, as he likes to be called, is one of the “nicest guys” in the pitlane but once he is strapped into his number 85, roaring V8 brute Speedcar he is a determined, gutsy and committed driver. At Dubai Autodrome, which is his home circuit, where he “grew up” he will be going all out for a good result and the weekend is his best opportunity to impress a growing legion of fans who will be waving Hasher flags on the day. Watch out for the distinctive red and white machine, with the driver in the black helmet, at the sharp end of proceedings.

The support bill is made up of the three UAE National Racing categories where in the highly competitive Yellow Hat UAE Touring Car Championship with House of Portier where no less than a dozen Emirati drivers will be in the 35 car grid. People’s favourite Mohammed Al Falasi will be flying the UAE flag as he battles at the front of the field in his awesome Corvette Z06. Al Falasi always rises to the occasion at big race meetings and revels in performing in front of the partisan crowd. Many are predicting a long overdue win for Al Falasi in the premier Class 1 of the series this weekend.

The question often asked about the highly competitive Class 4 is, “Who can beat Mohammed Al Owais?” The Emirati driver has, so far, dominated the biggest and most competitive field within the UAE Touring Car Championship. He and his Lap57 Racing Team Honda will once again be the combination to beat but increasingly he faces a stern challenge from a host of drivers including fellow countrymen: Khalid Al Mutawaa (House of Portier Renault), Khalid Bin Hadher (Performance Racing Team Honda), Umair Ahmed (Lap57 Racing Team Honda), Omran Al Owais (Lap57 Racing Team Honda) and Nawaf Al Ansari (Honda).

In the Gulf Radical Cup there are a trio of UAE drivers who are all capable of a podium finish. Humaid Al Masood is increasingly threatening the front runners while Khalid Al Zarooni can be counted on to give a strong showing. Arguably one of the sensations of the 2008/2009 season is 16 year old Sultan Al Mahboubi who has secured backing from Top Most Freight Solutions and will be going all out to impress in his car which sports a UAE flag as the livery and will make it stand out from the crowd this weekend.

Ahmed Al Lanjawi is the lone UAE rider in the UAE Sportbike Championship. Although not yet quite in touch with the blistering pace of the front runners, his progress on the big Suzuki GSXR1000 has been steady and could emerge as a force in the future. Also on the grid is an impressive line-up of GCC riders including Qatari Champion Meshal Al Naimi who, in his only guest appearance in the series, simply cleaned up with two emphatic wins in two races. He will be a hard man to beat in the premier 1000 Stock Class. In the smaller capacity 600 Stock Class the man to beat is Bahraini ace Hussein Al Kooheji (Al Yousuf Yamaha) who will no doubt again be at the forefront of the action.

Dubai Autodrome Chairman Saeed Khalfan concludes, “The emergence of UAE talent on the scene has been the highlight of a remarkable motorsport season where Emiratis have risen through the ranks and made the motorsport fraternity sit up and take notice. This weekend at Dubai Autodrome will be another important chapter in the ongoing development of the sport in the UAE with the added bonus of being on an international stage. We are very proud of what our UAE drivers have achieved in such a short space of time which bodes well for the future of our sport not only in the UAE but in the region too.”