Yas Marina Circuit will play host to a selection process for next season’s FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy. Lee Hoagland / The National
Yas Marina Circuit will play host to a selection process for next season’s FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy. Lee Hoagland / The National



ABU DHABI // Sixteen of the most promising drivers from the Middle East and Mediterranean will start an intensive four-day qualifying programme Sunday at Yas Marina Circuit as part of the selection process for next season’s FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy.

The institute hosts five regional qualifying events across the globe with the intention of providing exposure to the best potential drivers from each country.

Each qualifying event produces one winner who enters the academy, while three other drivers are selected using a wild-card system. The representative of the Emirates this week is Mansour Al Helei, who was selected by the UAE’s Automobile and Touring Club of the (ATCUAE) based on his performances in recent years in cross-country rallies.

Al Helei, 21, intends to compete in the Middle East Rally Championship next year.

Professor Gerard Saillant, president of the FIA Institute, said he was delighted that the ATCUAE offered to host the event at Yas Marina.

“It was their choice to host it there, but we fully endorse this,” he said. “The objective is not just to find a winner, but for it to be like a mini-academy in itself. We hope that all the drivers taking part will benefit from the experience.”

Al Helei, who is the son of renowned Emirati endurance racer Yahya, will join the other 15 participants this weekend as they each go through a series of training exercises designed to evaluate fitness and driving performance, as well as media techniques, teamwork and psychology.

According to Saillant, previous participants in the academy have “gone on to great things”.

“Last year, three of the academy’s alumni dominated World Series by Renault, winning the top three categories in the series,” he said.

“Spain’s Albert Costa won the Eurocup Megane Trophy, Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne took the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 title and Robin Frijns took victory in the top Formula Renault 3.5 championship.”

Vandoorne was recently signed up by McLaren-Mercedes’ young-driver programme while Frijns’s title win earned him a test with both Sauber and Red Bull Racing before being later announced as Sauber’s test driver this season.

He joins Alexander Rossi, an academy graduate from the United States, who is now a test driver with Caterham.

Saillant said that gauging drivers’ talent is not the primary objective of the weekend and stressed that “offering the opportunity for all of these drivers to develop and to do so with safety in mind” is the priority.

“If we can help them to improve and be safe, and to pass that message on to others, then the event will be a success.”

gmeenaghan@thenational.ae

Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Rio de Janeiro from Dh7,000 return including taxes. Avianca fliles from Rio to Cusco via Lima from $399 (Dhxx) return including taxes. 

The trip

From US$1,830 per deluxe cabin, twin share, for the one-night Spirit of the Water itinerary and US$4,630 per deluxe cabin for the Peruvian Highlands itinerary, inclusive of meals, and beverages. Surcharges apply for some excursions.

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MATCH INFO

Delhi Daredevils 174-4 (20 ovs)
Mumbai Indians 163 (19.3 ovs)

Delhi won the match by 11 runs

Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5