Asian Motor Sports

Mohammed Bin Sulayem; President of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) today hosted a press conference for the My Qi-Meritus.Mahara team which has arrived in Dubai to participate in the Grand Racing Weekend at the Dubai Autodrome next weekend, 5-6 December 2008.

My Qi-Meritus.Mahara is a multidimensional motorsport services company proud of its winning culture of racing and engineering successes in Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. The team’s motto is ‘Creating International Motorsport Heroes’ by supporting and training young drivers to achieve their dreams in the high tech business of international motorsport.

The Press Conference at ATCUAE HQ started at 11:30am with a Formula 1 car parked at the main entrance of the ATCUAE HQ, AL Mamzar, Dubai and was attended by

Alex Yoong - 32-year-old Malaysian former Formula One driver, who is Asia’s most successful racing driver having completed in a number of series from Formula Asia to Formula One

Earl Bamber - 18-year-old racing star from New Zealand who has won over a quarter of all the professional races he has contested

Peter Thompson, president and team founder, My Qi-Meritus.Mahara

Mohammed Bin Sulayem - UAE champion rally driver who has won more FIA regional championships, and more international rallies, than any other racer in history

Joachim Steffen director of the board of Qi Ltd, one of the team sponsors

Both rookie driver Earl Bamber and Malaysian hero Alex Yoong are excited and ready to resume driving duties for the second round of the season at the Dubai Autodrome, especially after My Qi-Meritus.Mahara recorded a strong eight point finish in the first round of the GP2 Asia series at Shanghai on Saturday, November 22, 2008. The Dubai Grand Racing weekend is an important event for the team with its strong links with the Middle East through its Saudi partner Raad S.Abduljawad. This relationship has led My Qi-Meritus.Mahara to become Arab motorsport ambassadors.

At the special press conference, Mohammed Bin Sulayem welcomed the My Qi-Meritus.Mahara team to the UAE and expressed his delight to see Dubai hosting yet another international motor racing championship which is putting Dubai and UAE again on the world map of motorsport. “Racing is passion and excitement,” he said. “It is good to see the drivers from this part of the world moving upward in this sport. Until now, we had no circuits. Now we have four (Dubai, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Qatar). People need to see that racing is affordable. We are proud to host the My Qi-Meritus.Mahara at our club and wish the drivers best of luck in the upcoming Championship.”

Peter Thompson, president and team founder of My Qi-Meritus.Mahara summed up:

“At the Shanghai International circuit, on November 23, 2008, in Formula V6 Asia, we won our 32nd championship event. We were also awarded the Malaysian “Superbrand” status on the basis of the different projects that have generated US$ 22 million for our sponsors. Of course, we are very happy to be able to develop a training environment based around the team. I see a large number of drivers every year in the different categories.

One of the top qualities for a driver is to be humble. To be a driver takes a lot of team work whether with the team or the sponsors. Racing is one hundred per cent a team sport. I am ready to organise a test for two UAE drivers in order to promote the rising champions of the Middle East. As for the team in Dubai this weekend, we need to score good results for our sponsors and produce points for the drivers’ championship. The team went beyond its original goal of scoring points during our first weekend of this season in China. These eight points are a great result, and we are looking forward to some more development for the race in Dubai.”

Raad S. Abduljawad, Team Chairman, My Qi-Meritus.Mahara said, “I was delighted with the team’s first results of the season. Bernie Ecclestone has given us the only Asian licence and we are determined to make it happen and not disappoint his faith in us. With Earl’s profile we have now discovered that Asian motorsport has the ability of producing champions in higher categories from the first race all the way through to end of the season.”

Joachim Steffen, director of the board of Qi-Ltd was also present having just arrived from a company conference in Uganda: “There is a lot of synergy between creating champions and developing efficient dynamic business skills and training people to become strong entrepreneurs. GP2 Asia racing is a very international platform and a breeding ground for F1. This is also why we have brought our company to the Dubai Autodrome for the Dubai Grand Racing weekend.”

Before the Dubai Grand Race, the drivers spent three days at the Monza team headquarters training on the simulator and preparing for the race where they will use Bridgestone’s new soft tyre compounds.

Alex Yoong and Earl Bamber’s relationship started as a master and student before becoming team mates who are determined to bring the GP2 Asia Series title to Malaysia. It was a perfect partnership with Bamber absorbing all of Yoong’s knowledge. As a result in 2006 the young Bamber stunned the racing world by winning the Formula BMW Asia driver’s title claiming 10 victories in a dominant season, while he was 16 years old.

Alex Yoong commented, “When Earl Bamber started in 2005, I was his tutor. Now we are team mates with both of us driving in a highly competitive series. The team has gained experience over the past year which was the first season of competition. All team members are now very much focused on podiums and wins this season. I am very lucky to have a very diverse experience in motor racing. Now I focus more on driving and I hope to drive for a very long time. Each category of racing is unique and I enjoy the different parts of the sport and the technical challenge is fantastic. There is a lot of atmosphere in GP2 Asia. I am very proud to be driving for My Qi-Meritus.Mahara. I had always heard about their reputation in Malaysia. Now I have had the chance to experience their professionalism first hand and it is a very good experience.”

Earl Bamber explained, “It has been a very interesting preparation time and I had a promising session working on the team’s computer simulator back in Italy. I like the elevation and the different levels of the track,” said Earl Bamber. “I had excellent preparation with Renault V6 Asia Championship. We finished first and second with my teammate. It was a fantastic season and even if the challenge is different and the tracks are different it gives you different feelings to adapt your lap times quickly.

For sure this makes for a good learning ground for competing in the GP2 Asia challenge. Also the good results from the last round have opened my eyes to what we can achieve. I have not seen the Dubai circuit physically. We are all completely focussed on doing another good job this next round. I hope I may be a challenger for the podium again. Our car is fantastic and I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel.”

The team, conscious of its social responsibility in the UAE, has invited the UAE Down’s Syndrome Association and the Sweet Kidz, Diabetic Children to come watch the Dubai Grand Racing. Ms. Sonia Al Hashemi, head of Board of Directors of the UAE Down’s Syndrome Association and Dr. Khawla Belhowl, President of the Sweet Kidz Group (Diabetic Children) attended the Press Conference and received 600 grandstand seat ticket invitations granted by My Qi-Meritus.Mahara team to their associations’ children to watch the Dubai Grand Racing events taking place at the Dubai Autodrome on Saturday December 6 at 11:00am.

Ms. Sonia Al Hashemi mentioned that, “The UAE Down’s Syndrome Association is privileged to be associated with this event and this is a clear manifestation of the level of awareness that is prevailing worldwide for Down’s Syndrome and the importance of recognizing and integrating Down’s Syndrome persons into society. Our participation in this event and acceptance of the My Qi-Meritus.Mahara Team invitation is in keeping with our vision of enhancing the lifestyle for Down’s Syndrome affected persons and providing them and their families with the necessary support.”

Dr. Khawla Belhowl, President of the Sweet Kidz Group (Children with Diabetes) praised the invitation of My Qi-Meritus.Mahara Team and explained, “Diabetes among children is on the rise and our mission is to create the necessary awareness among the societies on how to combat this disease. Our presence in this event in addition to entertaining our children is a large step forward in achieving our goals.”

Dubai’s mascot, the camel Jum Jum who is the main character of Jum Jum World created by Index Holding, will accompany My Qi-Meritus.Mahara team and drivers all weekend during the Press Conference and the Dubai Grand Racing on Friday December 5 and Saturday December 6, 2008.

Related articles:

• My Team Qi-Meritus.Mahara Up for GP2 Asia Second Season
• GP2 Asia: My Qi-Meritus.Mahara Preview