logo
Dubai Autodrome set to host a packed motorsport season

Dubai Autodrome set to host a packed motorsport season

Gulf Today29-05-2025
Dubai Autodrome General Manager Faisal Al Sahlawi has said the new 2025-26 motorsport season will be one of its busiest after reflecting on an 'incredible' milestone campaign that attracted a record-breaking attendance at 24H Dubai during its 20th anniversary celebrations.
Dubai Autodrome recently closed out its season after hosting more than 15 racing competitions over the last six months.
Among the events that took place include the annual endurance motorsport competition, 24H Dubai, which saw more than 70 teams, including the largest GT3, as well as the fifth Asian Le Mans, Formula Regional Middle East Championship, Formula 4 Middle East Championship, Formula Woman Nations Cup and other several regional motorsport events.
Furthermore, the venue held more than 80 motorcycle and car track days, and 20 roll racing events for the local community.
The season was part of Dubai Autodrome's 20th anniversary, which was celebrated at the 24H Dubai, and Sahlawi believes the upcoming season which will start in October solidifies the venue as a leading destination for motorsport and entertainment in the region.
He said: 'We are very pleased with the recent motorsport season, which coincided with the 20-year celebrations of Dubai Autodrome. Overall, there was exciting and competitive racing on the track with bigger grids and an array of top international and regional drivers in action, while off the track, there was a record number of spectators for the 24H Dubai with more than 30,000 attendees for this flagship event. This shows that motorsport is growing in the UAE and is going from strength to strength, which bodes well for the future.'
He added: 'Planning is already underway for the new 2025-26 season, and it will be one of the busiest seasons at Dubai Autodrome, as we have the Gulf Historic back, where iconic 1960s cars and historic F1 cars from the 70s and 80s will all be on display, as well as top racing on the track.
'There will also be four international races, including the 24H Dubai, and an array of top regional and local motorsport competitions where we expect to have a greater number of participants during the course of the season.'
Off the track, Dubai Autodrome's motorsport season is also contributing to the country's economic growth. Al Sahzlawi said: 'Overall, we had approximately more than 55,000 people be part of our motorsport events from race teams, drivers, and officials, and that saw airlines, hotels and hospitality services benefit greatly, especially with their families and friends also travelling.
'Not only are we pleased to be playing our part to support the UAE's growth beyond the motorsport races but is also a testament to the success of Union Properties' vision of enhancing Dubai Autodrome's position as a leading motorsport hub in the region.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Car review: 2025 Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT just broke a record at Yas Marina
Car review: 2025 Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT just broke a record at Yas Marina

Khaleej Times

time9 hours ago

  • Khaleej Times

Car review: 2025 Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT just broke a record at Yas Marina

Once a wartime and agricultural workhorse, the SUV has evolved into many sub-segments, now ranging from rugged off-roaders to city crossovers and high-performance machines. The latest addition to the latter is the 2025 Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT, which just set an F1 track ablaze with record-breaking performance. While we didn't do time laps ourselves, we got a thrilling taste of what it's like behind the wheel of this supercar in SUV form on the streets of Dubai. DESIGN & AESTHETICS The Cayenne, which originally channeled the Porsche 911 archetype, has been refined stylistically over time, gaining a whole new identity. The Turbo GT is based on the Cayenne Coupé, with its sloping rear roofline and aerodynamic teardrop shape, which also helps mask its substantial size (4,932 mm in length /1,995 mm in width). The rear end does look like an afterthought, but the overall design conveys power and poise — one that is ready for speed. The bodywork is also full of congruous, performance-oriented details that help it visually and dynamically. The square-ish headlights, for instance, feature Porsche's signature 4-point DRLs and HD-Matrix LED technology. Then there are the tiny aero winglets integrated into the large air intakes, plenty of carbon fibre bits, a unique dual-spoiler setup, which adds both style and downforce, and finally, the 911-like twin oval titanium exhausts that help deliver a thrilling soundtrack. The Cayenne Turbo GT also rides on 22-inch alloy wheels with elegant flower-petal-style spokes, which wrap extra-wide tyres (285 mm front / 315 mm rear) that add greatly to its presence and grip. For nearly a million dirhams, you get a richly crafted interior with geometry-obsessed Germanic aesthetics. It's not an overly flamboyant space, nor is it sterile. With excellent seat and steering wheel adjustability, the ergonomics are expectedly spot-on, but the wheel itself could be chunkier. To the left of the wheel sits the ignition button, while a compact toggle-style gear selector is found to the right. Some may disapprove of the steering wheel's dirt-prone Race-Tex (Alcantara) wrappings, but all will appreciate its easy-access rotary drive mode dial. All of the vehicle's vitals come through the configurable 12.6-inch curved screen, and infotainment duties are handled via the central 12.3-inch screen. The A/C controls get a separate panel below — but the lettering does get washed out in the sun. There is also a fancy third screen for front passenger use with minimal graphics, from which you can control both the navigation and music. The sports seats are upholstered in high-quality leather and perforated Alcantara, with blue stitching that gives the cabin character. But do keep in mind that with just two sculpted rear seats divided by hard plastic, this is a strict 4-seater. Thankfully, the coupé roofline doesn't hurt headroom. All in all, Porsche's unmatched craftsmanship is no secret, but finding out that Slovakia is the place of manufacturing certainly was. POWERTRAIN & PERFORMANCE As the name suggests, the Turbo GT is built for speed. With a record-breaking lap time of 2:14.046, it's now the fastest production SUV around Abu Dhabi's iconic Yas Marina F1 circuit. To achieve this, Porsche equipped it with a highly tuned twin-turbo 4.0L V8, shared with exotics like the Lamborghini Urus and Bentley Bentayga, which produces 659 PS and 850 Nm of torque and delivers it through an eight-speed automatic to an active all-wheel-drive system. On the move, the GT's throttle response is razor-sharp yet highly controllable, making it remarkably easy to drive daily. Steering feel, good visibility, and air suspension contribute to its everyday usability. Though under that civility lurks a beast. Activate Launch Control and stomp the pedal, and it rockets to 100kmph in just 3.3 seconds, completing the quarter mile in 11.6 seconds, leaving many supercar owners red-faced. It excels in corners too, thanks to race-bred engineering: a multi-link suspension helped by PDCC (48V electromechanical anti-roll bars), PTV Plus that brakes the inside rear wheel for agility, and rear-wheel steering that improves yaw control. Braking is handled by 440mm front/410mm rear cross-drilled discs with 10-piston front and 4-piston rear callipers — which deliver immense stopping power. If you know how to drive, you'll run rings around rivals on a racetrack. While Porsche claims a combined fuel economy of 12.5 l/100 km, we could only manage a thirsty 22 l/100 km. FEATURES & FUNCTIONALITY The infotainment system is colourful and user-friendly, though not revolutionary. Bluetooth pairs quickly, and the 710W 14-speaker Bose audio is crisp and powerful, but misses the live-music feel. The 15W wireless charger, found in the front cubby, alongside two USB-C ports, isn't the most accessible though. The 4-zone climate control gives individual control, while the manual vent direction controls are far preferred over on-screen adjustability. In terms of practicality, the powered tailgate opens to a flat, square boot offering 576 litres, expandable to 1,486 litres with the 40/20/40 split-folding seats down. Safety-wise, it comes with adaptive cruise control, 3D Surround View, self parking, and Lane Keeping Assist. And thanks to ISOFIX points for child seats, it's even capable of carrying your toddler at 200 mph. VERDICT The Cayenne has been the benchmark for the upper echelon. It is stylish, sporty, and functional. But the 2025 Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT is just something else. It delivers next-level performance and is quite literally a record-breaker. If I wanted to go fast, I'd choose a 911, but if I wanted to go fast with friends or family, I'd choose this. Its rear design is far from perfect, and one needs deep pockets to pay the price and quench its thirst. But hey, it's a Porsche — there is no substitute. EDITOR'S RATING: 8/10 stars SPECIFICATIONS 0 to 100kmph: 3.3 seconds (claimed) Top speed: 305 kmph (claimed) KT Luxe

Red Bulls team principal Horner fired after 20 title-filled years
Red Bulls team principal Horner fired after 20 title-filled years

Gulf Today

time10-07-2025

  • Gulf Today

Red Bulls team principal Horner fired after 20 title-filled years

Longtime Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was fired abruptly on Wednesday after a 20-year stint that included eight Formula 1 drivers' titles and a rise to celebrity status. Red Bull did not give a reason for the decision in a statement Wednesday, but thanked Horner for his work and said he will 'forever remain an important part of our team history.' Laurent Mekies of sister team Racing Bulls will replace Horner in his role as chief executive of the Red Bull team. Horner had been Red Bull team principal since it entered F1 as a full constructor in 2005. He had performed his team and media duties as normal throughout the British Grand Prix last week. His wife is Geri Halliwell - Ginger Spice of the Spice Girls - and Horner himself became a celebrity figure through his prominence on Netflix's F1 docuseries 'Drive To Survive,' where his bitter rivalry with Mercedes' Toto Wolff was a key plot point. He and F1 champion Max Verstappen were booed at the season launch in London in February. Horner oversaw eight F1 drivers' titles - four for Sebastian Vettel and four for Verstappen - and six constructors' titles during his time with the team. But McLaren has dominated this season in F1, while Red Bull's performance has dipped, though defending champion Verstappen remains third in the standings and the team is fourth. Team chief Christian Horner of Red Bull Racing looks at the track in Mexico City. File/AP Horner spent much of last week fielding questions over Verstappen's future at the team after the Dutch driver declined to commit to stay with Red Bull for 2026. Zak Brown, boss of rival McLaren, told The Associated Press last week it would be a 'disaster' for Red Bull if Verstappen were to leave. Horner is the latest in a series of high-profile executives to leave the team over the last year and a half. Car design great Adrian Newey joined Aston Martin and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley departed for Sauber, which is soon to become the Audi works team. All of these changes have followed the 2022 death of Dietrich Mateschitz, the billionaire co-founder of Red Bull who created its F1 project. The team also shuffled drivers, dropping Sergio Perez at the end of last season before a brief failed experiment with Liam Lawson as Verstappen's teammate. He was in turn replaced by Yuki Tsunoda, who hasn't scored a point in five races. 'We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years,' Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull's chief executive for corporate projects and investments said in a statement. 'With his tireless commitment, experience, expertise and innovative thinking, he has been instrumental in establishing Red Bull Racing as one of the most successful and attractive teams in Formula 1. Thank you for everything, Christian, and you will forever remain an important part of our team history.' The announcement comes more than a year after Horner was accused of misconduct toward a team employee. An investigation conducted on behalf of the Red Bull company dismissed the allegation, as did a further investigation conducted after the employee appealed against the initial ruling, Red Bull said at the time. Horner remained in charge of the F1 team throughout the entire process. Agencies

Norris revels in emotional first home win
Norris revels in emotional first home win

Dubai Eye

time07-07-2025

  • Dubai Eye

Norris revels in emotional first home win

Lando Norris said winning his home British Grand Prix was everything he had ever dreamed of and everything he had ever wanted to achieve, apart from winning the Formula One championship. The McLaren driver's fourth win of the season left him eight points behind Australian teammate and F1 leader Oscar Piastri but Sunday at Silverstone was less about the numbers and more about the emotions. No tears were shed, he claimed, even when he stepped out of the car and embraced his mother. "Apart from a championship, I think this is as good as it gets in terms of feelings, in terms of achievement, being proud –- all of it," he told 2009 champion and compatriot Jenson Button. "You know, this is where it all started for me... watching you on TV many years ago. And now, thankfully, I've been able to have my go. "The last few laps, I was just looking into the crowd. I was just trying to take it all in, enjoy the moment because it might never happen again. I hope it does but these are memories that I'll bring with me forever." Norris, whose fans had their own 'Landostand' at Silverstone, said after winning in Monaco that it was a boyhood dream come true but Silverstone was another level. The roll-call of British greats is long and Norris added his name to a list that has Lewis Hamilton's inscribed a record nine times. "When I get emotional, I don't cry, I just smile. It's pure happiness," he said of his feelings on taking the chequered flag and the wobble in his voice that had suggested tears might be flowing. "It's pure enjoyment of the moment that you're in," he told reporters. "I wish I could cry because I think it looks better for pictures sometimes. But no, I just smile instead. "I've joined a long list of pretty incredible winners who have won here in the past. Most of them are Lewis. But to join him and, from a British side, to continue the reign of the British here is pretty amazing. "The last two laps, looking up at the fans and seeing them on their feet and cheering -- these are moments that no one really gets, none of you guys get to witness. This is something that I and very few others, especially Brits, get to witness. "It's a very selfish moment but it's one of the most special, the most incredible. "I'm not going say it's my best win, that's not true. But in terms of what it means to win here at home the want, the desire to do it in front of my own grandstand, my family, my friends, McLaren... makes it all even more special."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store