Formula 2 World & Continental Powerboat Championships
launched in Dubai
Events will be under the patronage H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
The 2009-2010 season of the UIM F2 World and Continental Powerboat Championships was launched today in Dubai by UAE national Mr. Abdul Salam Fairooz. This is the first time in the history of the Formula 2 class that an Arab has been elected as the official promoter of the series of international races.
“His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has graciously agreed to become a patron of the F2 World and Continental Championships and this exciting news will develop our series into something very special,” disclosed Fairooz.
Fairooz announced that aside from the UAE, other hosting countries include Portugal, Morocco, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. He added that the subsequent seasons will include other continents such as Asia and the Americas.
The Emirati is the managing director of Formula World Sports and has been involved in the sport for almost 15 years both as a driver and as a promoter. He is also being supported by the Fujairah International Marine Club.
In the 2008 – 2009 championships, Fairooz was sponsored by Dubai-based Gulf General Investment Co. (GGICO) as Gold Sponsor.
Fairooz was awarded by the Union International Motonautique or U.I.M the rights to promote the UIM F2 World and Continental Championships for three years.
Formula 2 boats are equipped with 2-liter stock engines generating 200 HP and speeds up to 200 km/h. Hulls of Formula 2 boats reach a minimum length of 4.8 meters and minimum weight of 513 kg, which includes the driver. Due to their specially designed tunnel hulls, Formula 2 boats are able to turn almost instantaneously incurring more G forces than any other racing machine on the planet.
The UIM is the international governing body of powerboating. It is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and is also a member of the General Association of International Sports Federations and the Association of the IOC-Recognized International Sports Federations.
Supporting Fairooz to promote the sport worldwide are leading independent full-service advertising agency Venture Communications and its strategic partner Asia Sports Marketing, a premiere sports marketing company in the UAE.
“As a Dubai-based agency and as an Arab myself, we are so proud to be a partner of Formula World Sports, and to be associated with this increasingly popular and exciting sport. We will provide an integrated communications plan across all media to create awareness for the brand and the sport worldwide. As a first step, we are launching the new corporate identity of the UIM F2 World and Continental Championships,” said Gabby Chamat, CEO of Venture Communications.
For his part, Asia Sports Marketing General Manager Chucri Rizk added: “This partnership provides our group an opportunity to expand our services to the water sports sector. We have been marketing football and other sporting events like tennis, horse racing, golf and basketball. The UIM F2 World and Continental Championships are great and exciting events for corporate sponsors.”
