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   Wednesday, 07 January 2009
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Skills challenge a big draw at HCT |
Skills challenge a big draw at HCT
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DUBAI (UAE): The Emirates Motor Sports
Federation (EMSF) recently organized a driving skills programme for
students of the Sharjah Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) to coincide
with the Al Noor Safe Driving Campaign 2008.
The
HCT campaign, which comprised of a series of lectures and workshops and
held on the University’s campus, was launched by Crown Prince and
Deputy Ruler of Sharjah His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al
Qassimi on March 12 in the presence of Minister of Higher Education and
Scientific Research and Chancellor of the HCT Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak
Al Nahyan.
The EMSF,
which was part of the campaign, organized a two-day BMW Driving Skills
Challenge from March 16-17 where students were required to negotiate a
predefined track marked by traffic cones. Participants scored points
based on their driving skills with the top three being awarded trophies
while all others were awarded a certificate of participation.
EMSF
Director General Khalid Al Malik said while motor racing was the
mainstay of the Federation safety is of paramount importance for
obvious reasons, adding that the need of the hour was to educate young
driver on the necessity to get off the streets and on to race tracks
where they can hone their skills in a safe and controlled environment.
Mr.
Malik pointed out that it was the job of the Federation to promote
motor sport among young nationals and encourage them to take up
activities such as karting and rallying – two very popular
championships organized by the EMSF, apart from the autocross and bike
championships.
The EMSF,
he said, is looking to harness local motor racing talent and expressed
his satisfaction at the tremendous response to the skills challenge
where the Federation had come across some very talented drivers during
the course of the two days; drivers who could put their skill to the
test on the tracks.
People
are not born champions he noted, but materialize into champions through
sheer dedication, hard work and discipline, citing the example of
Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi – the local National and Regional Rally
Champion who has now stepped onto the world stage making the UAE proud
through his exploits in the World Rally Championship.
While BMW was the main sponsor of the driving skills challenge, Mobil 1 was the co-sponsor.
The
HCT safe driving campaign was organized under the slogan: ‘Life is
precious: drive responsibly,’ in memory of HCT student Noor Al Zarouni
who lost her life in a tragic road accident two years ago.
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THE BMW Driving Skills Challenge organized by the Emirates Motor Sports Federation got underway on the sidelines of the 9th International Motor Show 2008 at Expo Centre Sharjah on November 18.
The debut of the five-day event saw 28 competitors of various nationalities negotiate a BMW through a specially set up track in the car park located next to Gate No. 3 of Expo Centre Sharjah.
Khalil Mohammed Khalil, Alaa Said Rahrough and Yasser Ahmed Mohammed walked off with the first, second and third prize with times of 26.01 seconds, 26.91 seconds and 27.06 seconds respectively.
The winners received a trophy and Certina watch each while all participants received a certificate.
The challenge, sponsored by BMW, tests the driving skills of participants and highlights the importance of abiding by traffic rules and regulations.
The driving skills challenge is being held daily from 5pm to 10pm until November 22, the last day of the automobile show.
Pirelli, Certina and Mobil 1 are the other co-sponsors of the challenge.
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