UAE’s Al Shamsi and Al Masaood set for Green Hell

Team Abu Dhabi Radical SR3

Jun.22 (Abu Dhabi, UAE) Team Abu Dhabi’s newest Emirati driving duo, Jassim Al Shamsi and Humaid Al Masaood, are hoping to rev up their title challenge at this weekend’s 2010 Radical European Masters second round, running 25-27th June at Germany’s daunting Nurburgring Grand Prix circuit. Team Abu Dhabi’s Al Shamsi and Al Masaood will fly the UAE flag at one of the world’s most famous circuits against top international drivers in the Radical World Series.

The drivers, who are part of ADTA’s grass-roots development programme, showed promise in last month’s Round 1 at Spa-Francorchamps after finishing a respectable tenth in the Supersport Class out of 40 starters – something they hope to build on at Nurburgring.

And with each outing in Europe proving to be a steep learning curve for the Emirati duo, which has shown impressive talent in UAE national racing, they hope that Germany’s summer conditions will be more favourable as they hunt for a first podium finish.  “I am really looking forward to this weekend on one of the most famous circuits in the world. The opportunity for me as a racing driver is amazing and I only feel pressure on myself to fly the Team Abu Dhabi flag as high as possible,” said Al Shamsi.

Team Abu Dhabi’s Radical European Masters campaign is being run under the potent AUH Motorsport organisation, which has dominated Radical racing in the UAE throughout the 2009/2010 season and is the reigning Radical European Masters champion. “Team Abu Dhabi’s contention of the Radical European Masters is an evolution of the emirate’s motorsport strategy, providing invaluable opportunities for talented Emirati drivers to race at the highest international levels. Both Jassim and Humaid are promising drivers who are making the most of this opportunity,” said Team Principal Carl Rolaston. Team Abu Dhabi’s rising stars will line-up in a field of 40 highly competitive cars against 80 top drivers, for a testing second round. The weekend’s action starts on Friday (25 June) with two 40 minute practice sessions followed, on Saturday and Sunday, by two 50-minute endurance races featuring Le Mans style pit stop driver changes. Also on the Nurburgring grid will be AUH Motorsport’s Bassam Kronfli who is defending his 2009 Radical European Masters title and Jordan Grogor, the reigning 2009/2010 UAE Gulf Sport Radical Cup champion. The UAE-based duo will share a pit garage with the Team Abu Dhabi drivers.

Rolaston concludes, “This is an important weekend for Team Abu Dhabi in the Radical European Masters as each outing in the championship is an education for the drivers. For them the track is new, conditions very different to what they experience in the UAE and of course they are up against a formidable line-up of top international competitors. But having worked with the Al Shamsi and Al Masaood I am in no doubt that they will do the UAE proud.”

Quick Facts: Team Abu Dhabi at the Radical European Masters:
• Team Abu Dhabi became involved with AUH Motorsports in March 2010
• Team Abu Dhabi selected Jassim Al Shamsi and Humaid Al Masaood for the Radical European Masters
• Team Abu Dhabi aim is promote Abu Dhabi as a motorsports destination, increase European visibility for Abu Dhabi, develop young racing drivers from Abu Dhabi and expose them to experience of racing at top European circuits with large competitive grids.
• AUH Motorsports manage Team Abu Dhabi in the Radical European Masters
• AUH Motorsports was formed in July 2009 and since then have won the Radical European Masters in 2009, champions in the UAE based Gulfsport Radical Cup for 2009/2010, class winners in the Dunlop 24 Hours of Dubai
• AUH Motorsports 2010/2011 international programme includes competing in the 2010 Radical European Masters and the FIA GT4 European Cup
• AUH Motorsports race car fleet includes: 5 x Radical SR3, 1 x Radical SR8 and 2 x Aston Martin GT4 Vantage
• AUH Motorsports key personnel: Carl Rolaston (Team Principal) and Tom Maplethorpe (Technical Manager)

2010 Radical European Masters Championship features:
• 2×50-minute endurance races per weekend, featuring pit-stop driver change
• Additional points for fastest lap and pole position per class
• Control tyres and series scrutineer to minimise cost and ensure equal competition
• Equalisation formula to balance professional and gentleman driver performance

2010 Radical European Masters Championship calendar:
• 07/09 May – Le Mans Series- Spa-Francorchamps
• 25/27 June – Radical World Series- Nürburgring
• 24/25 July – Radical World Series- Zandvoort
• 21/22 August – Le Mans Series- Hungaroring
• 10/12 September – Le Mans Series- Silverstone
• 14/16 October – Radical World Series- Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA):

Short URL: http://speed.ae/?p=3702

Posted by Editor on 23 Jun 2010. Filed under Drivers & Teams News, GCC Competitors Abroad, Main Stories, Motorsport News, UAE. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.