Team Abu Dhabi
Encyclopedia
Team Abu Dhabi is a team competing in the World Rally Championship
. Team Abu Dhabi was set up in 2007 with the support of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority
(ADTA) with the purpose of giving drivers from Abu Dhabi
the opportunity to compete internationally. During 2007 ADTA began sponsoring the Ford World Rally Team, in a deal that saw Emirati driver Khalid Al Qassimi competing for the team. In 2011 Team Abu Dhabi has entered as a separate 'WRC Team'.
and team manager for Al Qassimi approached the Abu Dhabi Government with the concept of starting a junior rally team. Team Abu Dhabi was created under the guidance of Shaikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, the Chairman of ADTA with the purpose of creating an opportunity for Abu Dhabi drivers to experience rallying at all levels. Al Qassimi contested the Middle East Rally Championship
under the banner in 2007, while he joined the Ford World Rally Team from Rally Finland
as a result of ADTA's sponsorship deal with the team.
In 2009 three drivers, Bader Al Jabri, Ahmed Al Mansoori and Majed Al Shamsi competed in the Fiesta Sporting Trophy International, run on WRC events. The trio finished third, fifth and sixth in the standings respectively. Al Jabri and Al Shamsi continued in the series in 2010, finishing second and fourth respectively. In 2011 they are competing in the Production World Rally Championship
.
For 2011 Team Abu Dhabi has registered as a WRC Team, allowing Al Qassimi to score points for the manufacturers' championship.
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
. Team Abu Dhabi was set up in 2007 with the support of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority
Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority
Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority is a statutory body in the United Arab Emirates established in 2004 under the Government of Abu Dhabi’s economic diversification strategy. The authority has wide-ranging responsibilities for the promotion and development of the emirate’s tourism industry and...
(ADTA) with the purpose of giving drivers from Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
the opportunity to compete internationally. During 2007 ADTA began sponsoring the Ford World Rally Team, in a deal that saw Emirati driver Khalid Al Qassimi competing for the team. In 2011 Team Abu Dhabi has entered as a separate 'WRC Team'.
History
In late 2006 Ron Cremen, a former rally driver from AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and team manager for Al Qassimi approached the Abu Dhabi Government with the concept of starting a junior rally team. Team Abu Dhabi was created under the guidance of Shaikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, the Chairman of ADTA with the purpose of creating an opportunity for Abu Dhabi drivers to experience rallying at all levels. Al Qassimi contested the Middle East Rally Championship
Middle East Rally Championship
The Middle East Rally Championship is one of the official annual rally championships run by the FIA.The 2011 Events are as follows:-2010 season:The 2010 Events and winners:-Past champions:-Previous rally winners:...
under the banner in 2007, while he joined the Ford World Rally Team from Rally Finland
Rally Finland
The Neste Oil Rally Finland is a rally event driven in the Jyväskylä area in Central Finland. It is the biggest annually organised public event in the Nordic countries, gathering over 500,000 spectators every year....
as a result of ADTA's sponsorship deal with the team.
In 2009 three drivers, Bader Al Jabri, Ahmed Al Mansoori and Majed Al Shamsi competed in the Fiesta Sporting Trophy International, run on WRC events. The trio finished third, fifth and sixth in the standings respectively. Al Jabri and Al Shamsi continued in the series in 2010, finishing second and fourth respectively. In 2011 they are competing in the Production World Rally Championship
Production World Rally Championship
The FIA Production World Rally Championship, or PWRC, is a companion rally series to the World Rally Championship, and is driven on the same stages. PWRC is limited to production-based cars homologated under the Group N. The series began in 2002, replacing the FIA Group N Rally Championship...
.
For 2011 Team Abu Dhabi has registered as a WRC Team, allowing Al Qassimi to score points for the manufacturers' championship.