Local driver heads to UAE to boost motorsport ambitions

AMMAN — Jordan’s Nabeeh Muammar heads for the UAE next week aiming to take an important step in his bid to reach the top level of motorsport, according to a media statement.

The Royal Automobile Club of Jordan has selected Muammar to represent the country in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia regional qualifying event for the 2015 FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy.

Fifteen young drivers from around the region will take part in the event, which is organised by the Automobile and Touring Club for the UAE (ATCUAE) and takes place at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit from September 28 to October 1.

At stake is a place in next year’s fully funded academy programme, which develops young talent and promotes safety in motorsport.

Muammar is aiming to become the third Arab driver to go through into the academy after the UAE’s Mohamed Al Mutawaa in 2012 and Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Bamogaddam, who came out on top in Abu Dhabi last year.

“The FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy has proved to be very successful in developing the best young talent for careers at the top level of motorsport,” ATCUAE President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, an FIA vice president, was quoted as saying in the statement.

“Competition for the one place available in Abu Dhabi will be fierce, and regardless of who wins, each of the drivers taking part will gain a great deal of knowledge and experience to help them in their own careers.”

The 21-year-old Muammar started karting in Amman in 2007 and the following year won the Rotax Max Challenge national series with three wins in four events. In 2009, he clinched the annual Umniah Karting Cup in Amman, and the same year finished runner-up in the Jordanian National Open Karting Challenge, repeating the feat in 2010.

The following year he claimed second place in the Middle East Easy Karting Cup in Sharm El Sheikh, and over the next two seasons took part in testing for the Formula Renault BARC Series in the UK. 

Among those hoping to come out on top in Abu Dhabi will be the UAE’s Mansour Al Helei, Kuwait’s Ali Makhseed, Oman’s Anas Al Raeesi, Lebanon’s Patrick Njeim and Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah El Khereiji. The other countries represented are Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Sudan, Syria and Tunisia.

The regional qualifying event will consist of a series of tests on the track, and in the classroom, at Yas Marina Circuit, home of the F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Open to nominated drivers aged 15-23, it is one of six regional qualifiers worldwide which will deliver a total of 10 drivers into the 2015 Academy programme.

Previous academy graduates include Formula One reserve drivers Alexander Rossi, Stoffel Vandoorne and Robin Frijns, and World Rally Championship drivers Andreas Mikkelsen, Pontus Tidemand and Craig Breen.