Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Yas Marina Circuit recently cooperated to introduce sporting professionals to the world of Motorsports. Throughout March, Al Ain Football Club players and F1 Powerboat champions were given the chance to visit Yas Marina Circuit and experience some of the motorsport activities on offer, including such as drag racing and karting.

In one session, Al Ain FC football players Salim Abdullah, Youssef Abdel-Rahman, Saif Mohammad, Mohammad Fayez and Abdullah Sultan were introduced to the Yas Kartzone, before suiting up to race against Yas Racing Team drivers Saeed Al Mehairi and Sheikh Hasher Al Maktoum, professional kart racer Haitham Sultan and Radical driver Juma Al Dhaheri.

While the clear winners on the day were the motorsport professionals, it provided the football players with the opportunity to understand more about the skills and fitness levels required by a racing driver.

Salim Abdullah of Al Ain FC commented: "I am a big fan of motorsports and a loyal F1 follower; driver Fernando Alonso is one of my favourites. It was great to be able to get a taste of what he and other drivers experience. I highly recommend the Yas Kartzone experience to all our Al Ain (FC) supporters and anyone who enjoys the thrill of driving.”

When asked about the comparisons between football and motorsports, Abdullah said: “The Yas Kartzone experience was a great insight into the intensity of motorsports. Both sports demand a lot from the mind and body; a fast response time is really important for football players and drivers.”

Fellow team member Saif Mohammad commented on the visit: "It was an exciting experience, I enjoyed competing with the rest of my team in a different sport and this will definitely not be my last visit. The sensation of speed and the physical demands of motor racing are so different to what we experience on the football field, but both sports do require high levels of concentration and the ability to adapt quickly.”

Abdulla Al Shammari, Yas Kartzone Manager, said: “We are pleased that the Al Ain FC players were able to have such an experience. I hope everyone involved in the Abu Dhabi Sports Council’s Sports Care Programme and their fans will come and enjoy our karting track. It will be operating during the Local Champions event on 8 April, which brings together two of the leading Middle East race series, the Porsche GT3 Cup and the GCC Radical Challenge, putting the spotlight on local drivers..”

Yas Marina Circuit motorsport opportunities are available to all. For more information on the activities the circuit has to offer or to book an experience, go to www.yasmarinacircuit.com or call 800 YAS (927).
 

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