It may only be a matter of a couple of years before Dubai hosts its first-ever Formula One race at the Dubai Autodrome.
"It's a natural and logical progression... another two or three years and Formula One will be begging to come to Dubai," Marco Saviozzi, the Event Project Director for the LG Super Racing Weekend scheduled for October 6-8, told Gulf News.
The Dubai Autodrome recently announced the LG Super Racing Weekend to celebrate its official launch.
The Weekend series includes two FIA Championships - the FIA GT Championship and the FIA Touring Car Championship - along with the exciting Renault V6 Eurocup single seater series."I think Dubai has made the right choice by opting for the Racing Weekend rather than going headon into a Formula One race," Saviozzi opined.
However, the event project director defended the decision of Bahrain in bringing in the first-ever F1 race to the region.
"Bahrain has the government behind it, so that eases up a lot of pressure. On the other hand, Union Properties is a private investment. One cannot make money if one goes in directly with a F1 race," Saviozzi stated.
"Anyway, compared to the F1, GT racing is much more attractive and there is more interaction between the teams and the fans."
It is against this backdrop that Dubai Autodrome wants to place itself firmly on the international motorsports map.
"Having a F1 race is no doubt a sure way of putting a country on the map. But organising a successful series like the GT, the European Touring Car and the single seater Renault is a sure way of bringing in the crowds," Saviozzi offered.
"People in this region invest a lot of money on cars. And during the LG Super Racing Weekend, they will have the perfect opportunity to see their dream car on the circuit."
One car which is waiting in the wings to make its debut after a five-decade absence is the Aston Martin. "The Aston Martin will be launched during the Dubai Weekend," Saviozzi stated.
Signs and indications are also strong that the GT series will explode next year. And possibly stepping forward to assist will be Bahrain.
"The biggest factor in costs is the transportation of the 70-odd cars taking part in the three championships. And when Bahrain hosts the Weekend from 2005, it will be much better to have two racing weekends in the region rather than one," Saviozzi stated.
"And by next year, there will be an official team from Dubai at the championship."
Now in its third year, the LG Super Racing Weekend will culminate in Dubai with the overall champions being crowned right here. "The FIA has termed the Dubai track as the best in the world at the moment".
Karthikeyan may race in Dubai
Narain Karthikeyan, one of India's foremost prospects for Formula One entry, may be one of the prominent drivers at the LG Super Racing Weekend here from October 6-8.
"We're trying our best to have Karthikeyan in Dubai this October," confirmed Marco Saviozzi, the event project director for the Weekend.
"F1 is big in this part of the world and we know that by bringing Karthikeyan here, we would be attracting a sizeable crowd from the sub-continent."
The 27-year-old Indian, a product of the famed ELF Winfield Racing School in France, is presently racing in the Telefonica World Series by Nissan with the Tata RC Motorsport Team.
Gulf News
