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One of the UAE’s top young talents could earn a chance to build a career in motor sport by winning a place at the renowned FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy (YDEA).
Previous academy graduates include Formula One reserve drivers Alexander Rossi, Stoffel Vandoorne, and Robin Frijns, and World Rally Championship drivers Andreas Mikkelsen, Pontus Tidemand and Craig Breen.
The Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) is staging the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia regional qualifying event for the 2015 academy at Yas Marina Circuit from 28 September to 1 October.
Like 22 other national motor sport authorities from around the region, the ATCUAE has also been invited by the FIA Institute to nominate a driver aged between 15 and 23 to take part in the event, one of six regional qualifiers worldwide.
Winners from each gain automatic selection into the fully funded 2015 Academy programme, which develops young talent and promotes safety in motor sport. Four more drivers will be selected using a wildcard system.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for the region’s best young drivers to develop their skills, and enhance their chances of a career in international motor sport,” said ATCUAE President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the FIA Vice President.
“Competition for a place in the academy will be tough, but all the participants who come to Abu Dhabi will learn a great deal to help them in their careers. The winner will have the chance to follow in the footsteps of other academy graduates who have gone on to drive at the top level.”
The ATCUAE will be assessing potential candidates before nominating its representative in the coming weeks. The 23 drivers will receive four days of world-class training and education in Abu Dhabi. In addition to learning advanced driving techniques, they will be tutored on modern media techniques, teamwork and psychology, by a team of experts.
This year’s qualifying events cover six regions. The others take place in Holland (North Eastern Europe), Croatia (South Western Europe), South Africa (Sub-Saharan Africa), Mexico (Americas) and China and Australia jointly (Asia-Pacific).
The Academy offers a fully-funded training programme to help drivers develop motor sport careers, while increasing safety skills and promoting fairness and responsibility on and off the track.
Nominated by the ATCUAE, young Emirati Mohamed Al Mutawaa became the first Arab driver to enter the academy programme two years ago, and has since developed his career with Abu Dhabi Racing in the World and Middle East Rally Championship.
Mansour Al Helei represented the UAE in last year’s regional qualifying event in Abu Dhabi, where Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Bamogaddam won a place in the Academy. Al Helei has this year been competing in the Middle East Rally Championship with Abu Dhabi Racing.
This year’s qualifying event covers Algeria, Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkmenistan and Yemen and UAE.
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