Motorsport in the Gulf region is to be celebrated with a prestigious new awards event run by Sport360°.
The GCC Motorsports Awards will recognise the achievements of circuit and rally drivers, motorcycle racers, karters, powerboaters, teams, sponsors and all those who operate behind the scenes of what has become an integral part of sport in the region.
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Apart from the current stars of the motorsport scene, the awards will also aim to encourage the development of young drivers in the hope of helping to find champions of the future.
Michael Chalhoub, CEO of Sport360°, said: “I believe that motorsport is an inherent part of the region’s culture, from its infancy on.
“Indeed, with the sort of landscape and facilities that the GCC has to offer, and the passion for cars, quads, motorcycles and boats, that has been flowing into the genes of many of the region’s citizens, it’s only normal that we now have fantastic drivers in many sports, amateur or professionals, from rally to motorboating, and true specialists in their fields.
“Sport360°, as an incubator for passion and a facilitator for bringing talented people of this region together, has taken the initiative to recognise the amazing drivers and mechanics of the GCC and help put the well-deserved media spotlight on them in a way that has not been done before.
“We truly believe this will help people thrive and build an amazing competitive atmosphere in the region for people to get to levels of performance unseen before.”
The full list of categories, which will reward excellence in motorsport, has yet to be confirmed but will include Professional Driver of the Year, Amateur Driver of the Year, Young Driver of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Race Driving Instructor of the Year, Team of the Year, Arab Driver of the Year, Kar-ter of the Year, and Manufacturer of the Year.
The best motorsport initiative of the year will also be recognised and the those who keep the wheels turning will get their spot in the limelight with an award for the best pit crew/mechanic.
Nominees will be judged by an independent panel made up of motorsport experts from the entire region with the results announced at a gala dinner at Yas Marina Circuit, the home of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, on May 7 next year.
The awards will cover the entire region and are open to both professionals and amateurs who will have separate categories. This initiative, which has been welcomed by major motorsport organisations in the GCC, is the latest in a series of events launched by Sport360° to celebrate and develop sporting excellence in the region.
Entries open in February next year but for more details contact: events@sport360.com.