MENA Region Should Produce Its Own World Champions, Says New Motor Sport Study

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has some of the most iconic motorsport events in the world and should be able to produce its own world champions, a new study being carried out in the UAE says.

Aimed at attracting a constant flow of new young competitors, the report says this can be performed only by a structured collaboration between national motor sport authorities (ASNs), government, commercial race track owners and the FIA, the sports world governing body.

Characterising motor sport in the region presently as an older male sport with significant barriers to entry, the study points to most ASNs appearing to be without a clear plan to pick out and enhance young talent.

Based on interviews with motor sport licence holders and leisure karting drivers, it says young enthusiasts want a role model, and calls on ASNS to set aside a budget for cautiously planned social media campaigns to attain them.

Commissioned by Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA regional Vice President for Sport, the report is being compiled via ongoing research in the UAE by a crew led by Professor David Hassan, one of the worlds leading professionals in sport management.

Professor Hassan, Associate Dean at Ulster University in the UK, presented the initial findings at last weeks FIA Sport Regional Congress for the Middle East and North Africa in Muscat.
The research says ASNS ought to accept a need for ongoing promotion that appeals directly to young people on the basis that, besides advantageous social media you do not exist.

The ultimate goal is to discover methods to carry a constant flow of young people into motor sport in the MENA region, and enhance the best talent to produce our own world champions, stated Sulayem, President of the Emirates Motorsports Organization (EMSO).

As the study points out, we do host some of the worlds most iconic motorsport events, with the F1 Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, as well as the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.

While there is a link between hosting primary events, like an F1 GP, and increased participation, it doesnt take place without a plan. This will be given top priority based on the overall findings when the study is completed within the next six weeks.

Preliminary findings from the study showed that only 15% of motor sport licence holders in the UAE are aged 21 or younger, and less than 20% are new to the sport, having been competing for three years or less. In contrast, over 50% have been competing for ten years or more

A huge majority (83%) of respondents prefer to see more structured driver support from their ASN, 73% would like to see greater events being organised, while 47% placed significance on more government support. Almost all would be pleased to support new drivers through a mentorship scheme.

Professor Hassan presented the findings to officials from 20 MENA region national motor sport authorities, as well as by FIA President Jean Todt, at last weeks Muscat congress.