DUBAI // When Emirati driver Omran al Owais was asked yesterday why his modified Honda Civic was not, like the majority of the 80 international teams participating in this weekend's Dunlop 24 Hours of Dubai, parked in its pit ahead of today's two practice sessions, he could not fail to see the irony. "The traffic from Sharjah to Dubai is a killer," he replied, with a smile.
More than 26 nationalities will represent 21 countries when the fifth year of the emirate's annual endurance race at Dubai Autodrome gets officially under way tomorrow at 2pm. In 2006, when the inaugural event took place, there was not a single driver from the UAE. This year sees six Emirati drivers and 13 cars representing the Emirates, albeit with drivers predominantly from Europe. Al Owais, his younger brother Mohammed and friends Saeed al Mehari and Umair Khan, will compete under the name Al Qasba Lap57 UAE Racing Team.
It is the only team on the grid made up almost entirely of Emiratis; Khan is from Pakistan. Speaking at the launch of the race's fifth edition and surrounded by flags from as far afield as El Salvador and Japan, al Owais said he is determined to do his country proud. "For Emiratis, our fathers and grandfathers may not have raced in motorsports, but they had horses and camels and have a racing history," said the 30-year-old Sharjah-based driver.
"Motorsport is very new here, but the industry is really growing and we have great infrastructure. "The sad thing is we have so few Emirati teams racing on the new tracks. "This weekend, we need to present a good image of the country and project ourselves in the best way possible. "We need to fly our flag high and get it on the podium to show other Emiratis what can be achieved and that they should come and join us."
Al Owais raced in the event two years ago and, despite being the last-placed car to finish - more than 30 cars retired - he is convinced his team can go all the way this time round. "That year we were concentrating on too many things; we were all over the place," he said. "This year we are channelling all our energy towards the same goal. We want to take it one step at a time. "Last year my brother, Mohammed, challenged himself to win the UAE Touring Championship and he did that. This year we are focused on this race and want to finish first in our category. For us, it is easy and very achievable.
"We know the car very well and built it here in the UAE, so if something goes wrong, all the mechanics can fix it very quickly. "But the most important thing is getting past the first turn." @Email:gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
