Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) and Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) yesterday signed a collaboration agreement for motorsport in the two countries.
The agreement was signed by ATCUAE president Mohamed Ben Sulayem and QMMF president Abdulrahman bin Abdulatif al-Mannai in the presence of Losail Circuit Sports Club general manager Khalid bin Hassan al-Rumaihi and Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management chief executive Al Tariq al-Ameri.
Commenting on the agreement signature, Ben Sulayem said: “We are pleased to sign this agreement with the QMMF, which will contribute to the development of many aspects of motorsports in both countries. The UAE and Qatar both hold prestigious positions and world class infrastructures to organise and attract international events like the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, a round of both the FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup and the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship. This agreement will contribute to uniting the efforts of both countries to promote and grow motorsport throughout the region.”
Al-Mannai added: “This landmark agreement between our two federations is key, not only for Qatar and the UAE, but for motorsport across the entire Gulf. We already share many competitors and championships, so closer cooperation is vital in ensuring that we continue our mandates of growing sustainable motorsport. Competitors are our first priority, by coordinating our annual calendars we will make it easier for them to participate in events taking place in Qatar and UAE, and I would like to thank Mohammed Ben Sulayem for his support in this.”
The agreement, which was signed at the ATCUAE’s offices in Dubai, outlines collaboration across many aspects of motorsport in UAE and Qatar, including coordination of the annual events calendar of both countries to enable maximum competitor participation in each other’s events, at both the national and international levels.
Another point of co-operation is in regards to the launch and inaugural season of the new UAE Formula 4 Championship, which will feature teams sponsored by both the Emirati and Qatari federations.
Furthermore, both federations will work together in the area of official’s safety training for motorsport volunteers and officials in both countries, as well as exploring the possibility of delivering joint motorsport official’s safety training projects worldwide in their mutual capacity as FIA Institute-appointed Regional Training Providers.
The agreement also supports undertaking joint research projects within the motorsport industry, such as economic impact studies, volunteer and officials welfare, and officials and competitors safety between the federations and in conjunction with the FIA and FIM.