The Capital Club – Fresh from competing at the China Grand Prix on 19th April and en route to the Bahrain Grand Prix on 24th April, Formula One driver Giancarlo Fisichella stopped in Dubai to treat members of the Capital Club – Dubai’s premier private business club - to an exclusive evening reception to discuss the latest news from the glamorous world of Formula One.
Commenting on the event, Andrew Christon, General Manager of the Capital Club, said: ‘This event highlights the diversity of the speakers that we bring to the club to discuss a variety of topics with our members firsthand. Although the majority of our speakers cover current business developments and opportunities that are being created in Dubai’s core industries, we feel that it is also important to balance these discussions with more international issues and topics of general interest for the members.”
Giancarlo and his manager mingled with Capital Club members before he took to the stage for a question and answer session with Damien Reid, Editor of Autocar Middle East and F1 Racing Middle East. Reid interviewed Giancarlo on a number of topics including his personal life, his racing history and also his thoughts on the new rules announced by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) that have shaken Formula One recently.
Speaking on the current 2009 international season to date, Giancarlo said: “It gives encouragement that the results table has flipped this year; last year McClaren and Ferrari were winning everything but this has now changed. There are currently lots of very good drivers involved in Formula One but there are also so many differences between the cars that it is always hard to predict how things will turn out.”
“Racing is a fantastic feeling and you can feel that you are doing a fantastic lap but you never know whether it is enough until you come to the end. When you race well you feel so satisfied but to do so you need a consistent car, you need to be confident and you need to also work well with your team. When racing you feel every move, it is a constant learning curve,” Giancarlo said when discussing his last two races in China and Malaysia where the conditions were extremely wet.
Many Formula One teams have been outraged by the radical new changes recently forced through by the FIA and there is an industry wide concern that these rules may destroy the very essence of the sport. Giancarlo expressed his concern for the rule agreed to by the FIA recently which plans to award the world championship to the driver with the most race wins for the year rather than the most points, starting at this month’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Another controversial change highlighted was a drastically slashed budget suggested for teams, which, although voluntary, would provide those who complied with greater design freedom thus making the sport more competitive.
After years of dominating various Karting series, Fisichella made his Italian Formula Three debut in 1992. He has won three races in his career to date, the first of which was at the chaotic 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix, a race abandoned for safety reasons with 15 laps remaining. After much confusion regarding rules and technicalities (which lasted for several days) Fisichella was eventually declared the winner in the following week and collected his trophy in an unorthodox ceremony at the following race. He was brought in to the Renault team to replace fellow Italian Jarno Trulli and won his first race with the team in Australia in 2005.
The evening with Giancarlo Fisichella was the latest fixture of the Capital Club’s speakers’ programme, which has previously hosted H.E. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade and distinguished member of the Capital Club’s Board of Governors; H.E. Dr. Omar, Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre; former Costa Rican President and CEO of Grupo Felipe IV in Spain, José María Figueres; and one of the world’s best violinists Miha Pogačnik’s.
The Capital Club, opened on 9 April 2008, in the DIFC’s Gate Village. Since its launch in late 2006, the Capital Club has attracted over 1,250 members, including some of the region’s most senior decision-makers, and leaders in business, finance and government. Little expense has been spared to create within the DIFC an elegant and welcoming ambience in which to meet, to exchange ideas and to entertain guests. The luxury décor of the club – which houses restaurants, lounges, private meeting rooms, a wellness area, and guest rooms -- is exquisite and includes contemporary art from the region, fine antiques, handcrafted furniture and rich imported fabrics.
