Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed UAE Racing Drivers Academy, an academy that trains and develops young UAE drivers, was launched today at the Race & Driving School of the Dubai Autodrome.
The Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed UAE Racing Drivers Academy is the first of its kind in the UAE aims to select and train young UAE drivers and give them the ability to race and compete at the highest international level. It will deliver a comprehensive approach to educating and training UAE nationals and provide them with all the training and support to enhance their racing skills.
Five drivers have been nominated to enter an extensive program at the academy. During this program, these drivers were trained and assessed at the Dubai Autodrome. Based on these assessments, three were chosen: Hasher Maktoum, Mohammed Al Kamda and Phillip Al Redha.
At the Autodrome, the drivers were trained at the Race & Driving School and their programme included an assessment on their basic racing level, improvement of racing techniques and timed sessions. Every driver had to go through a complete medical check-up before starting the athletic programme. The athletic evaluation and training was done at “The Nautilus Academy” under the supervision of certified fitness professionals.
All these trainings were supervised by Racing Instructor David Terrien, a triple world champion in motor racing and James Burnett, the Race and Driving School Manager.
Recently, the Chairman of the Dubai Autodrome Mr. Saeed Khalfan met with Jacques Regis, President of the French Motorsport Federation (FFSA) and Vice-President of the FIA to sign a cooperation agreement between the Autodrome and their racing academy, LA FILIERE FFSA (French Auto Sports Federation).
La Filière was created in 1993 by Elf to promote French drivers at the highest level, in line with its marketing approach and its commitment to Renault in F1. It was taken over in April 2001 by the FFSA (French Motorsport Federation), becoming one of its subsidiaries. Since that date, it has been know as La Filière FFSA.
The three drivers, accompanied by Team Manager Essa Bin Hadher, attended an extensive race training programme at La Filiere and were engaged in dozens of intense hands-on exercises and cross-training through a selection of driving methods and demonstrations.
A significant part of the training comprised also of different conferences - technical, marketing, interviews, and other topics that the drivers will be confronted with during their future professional careers.
In order to validate the teaching dispensed to drivers, LA FILIERE organises the French Formula Campus Renault Elf championship, with 7 meetings and 14 races. This championship will start in mid April and finishes in October. The driver learns the stages required for the construction of a result, how to approach a competition and how to behave as a motor sports competitor.
Before the season, each driver does the same number of training kilometres, supervised by professional instructors over 5 to 6 days, with systematic correction of driving at each session. The drivers are then authorised to undertake training outside the authority and organisation of LA FILIERE in order to get a broader perspective of racing. The framework of these tests is specified in the regulations of the French Formula Campus Renault Elf Championship.
The Dubai Autodrome Race and Driving School facilities are being prepared and equipped to fully operate a Race and Driving Programme here.
About the Dubai Autodrome
Dubai Autodrome is the region's first fully integrated motor and motorsports facility. The Autodrome is a state-of-the-art complex featuring an FIA sanctioned 5.39 km track, ultra-modern 7,000-seat grandstand, hospitality suites for corporate guests and parking for up to 10,000 cars. There are six track permutations, while three can work simultaneously, which gives unparalleled options for track users.
The complex, which is a part of the Union Properties development MotorCity, includes a racing & driving school, a CIK-approved go-kart track and is ideal for concerts and corporate entertainment. Dubai Autodrome also acts as a social destination and tourist attraction for overseas visitors.
