Al-Futtaim Toyota’s pioneering driver development program created to develop next generation of motorsport talent in the UAE

· Qualifications stage moves from karting trials onto time attack and autocross rounds in the blisteringly fast Toyota GR Supra

· 32 participants selected from a field of over 1,500 who auditioned for Season 2 of the Academy

· Field of 32 includes a split of 23 male and 9 female drivers, with 16 different nationalities represented and ages ranging from 18 to 57 years old

· Final winner will enjoy once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become the 2024 Toyota Gazoo Racing UAE Ambassador and drive a high-performance Toyota GR Supra for the year

Season 2 of the Toyota Gazoo Racing UAE Motorsport Academy

Following the auditions of over a thousand applicants for Season 2 of the Toyota Gazoo Racing UAE Motorsport Academy, Al-Futtaim Toyota’s pioneering driver development program created to develop next generation of motorsport talent in the UAE, the final field of 32 participants has now been selected to advance to the Qualifications stage of the program.

After a highly successful inaugural season boasting intense off-road action watched by millions of viewers on Shahid, the Arab world’s biggest streaming platform, the Toyota Gazoo Racing UAE Motorsport Academy 2024 moves onto the asphalt to deliver more high-octane action, intense competition, and racing thrills for its competitors and online viewers.

UAE Motorsport Academy

This year, the Toyota Gazoo Racing UAE Motorsport Academy has so far seen contestants take to the track at the state-of-the-art Karting Town in Sharjah for a series of kart racing qualifiers, which will now be followed by thrilling Autocross and Time Attack sessions in the blisteringly fast Toyota GR Supra that will demand exceptional driving skill and precision.

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Commenting on the initiative, Saad Abdullah, General Manager – Marketing, Toyota for Al-Futtaim Automotive, said: “After several rounds of intense auditions featuring highly competitive on-track action, it was incredibly tough narrowing it down to the finalists for the Qualifications stage of the Toyota Gazoo

Racing UAE Motorsport Academy 2024. However, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the 32 qualifiers who will be progressing in the second season of the Academy. Whatever the outcome of the Qualifications stage, these 32 can be proud to be part of an elite cadre of drivers selected from thousands to be part of this pioneering driver development program and walk away with invaluable skills learned from seasoned motorsports professionals who are hosting the trials they will face. The Toyota Gazoo Racing UAE Motorsport Academy was conceptualized to serve as a platform to invest in the local motorsports community by developing skilled drivers, thereby reinforcing Al-Futtaim’s commitment to motorsport excellence in the region. Once again, the Academy further strengthens Toyota’s motorsports credentials and reinforces what the brand has stood for over the years: dependable performance and the ability to push the limits on what machine and man can do together.”

The Academy Program

The 2024 season of the Toyota Gazoo Racing UAE Motorsport Academy is taking place across four grueling phases, in which the physical prowess, driving skills, media finesse, and mental acuity of the competitors will be tested, promising not just glory on the track but a lasting impact on the motorsports landscape both in the United Arab Emirates and globally.

Following the Auditions, in which candidates were assessed based on a combination of competitive kart racing and an interview to assess media skills, the final 32 successful candidates have now been shortlisted for the Qualifications stages, which moves from karting trials onto time attack and autocross rounds in Toyota GR Supra. This year’s field of 32 qualifiers includes a split of 23 male and 9 female drivers, with 16 different nationalities represented and ages ranging from 18 to 57 years old.

16 participants will make it to the second round of the Qualification phase, after which eight will progress to the Development phase, and 4 will compete in the Finals for the ultimate battle to be crowned the Toyota Gazoo Racing UAE Ambassador for 2024.

Throughout the Academy’s stages, candidates can expect to be tested on the following:

· Media: Shine in the media spotlight as they showcase their charisma and passion for racing.

· Focus, Physical, & Mental Training: Demonstrate commitment and mental fortitude through focused training exercises.

· Racing: Take to the track to prove their mettle in high stakes racing challenges.

Supporting Partners

The supporting partners for the Toyota Gazoo Racing UAE Motorsport Academy in 2024 are Al-Futtaim Blue Rewards, Karting Town, Sharjah, the venue host of this year’s event, Dunlop as the supplier of premium Tyres providing added performance and safety to the Toyota GR Supra’s, and CAFU as the fuel partner keeping the Supra’s fueled and ready for action. Nutrition partners for the Academy are Fade Fit, whilst hydration for the competitors has been provided by Al Ain Water.

All of the high-octane action will be available to view in the Toyota Gazoo Racing UAE Motorsport Academy 2024 Web Series on Toyota UAE’s YouTube Channel from June 16, 2024. Stay tuned for more details!

About Al-Futtaim Toyota

Toyota, a Japanese automotive manufacturer founded in 1937, is the world’s market leader in sales of hybrid electric vehicles. Toyota has been exclusively distributed in the UAE by Al-Futtaim Automotive, part of Al-Futtaim Group, for over six decades, and has been leading the sustainable mobility movement since 2008.

With a large line-up of vehicles ranging from SUV, compact, sedan, coupe, MPV and LCV, as well as a wide range of Hybrid options, Al-Futtaim Toyota is setting new benchmarks for clean motoring in an effort to actively contribute to a lower carbon footprint in the UAE. 2017 saw the introduction of the zero-emission hydrogen-powered Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Toyota Mirai, in a pilot aiming at studying the possibilities of establishing a hydrogen-based, carbon-free society.

Toyota’s line-up features several hybrid vehicles including the sporty, practical and environmentally friendly RAV4, the C-HR, an innovative compact SUV, the seven-seater Highlander which is the brands biggest HEV to date, the powerful and efficient Corolla and the sleek and sophisticated Camry.

2020 Toyota GR Supra

In September 2019, after a 17-year wait, Al-Futtaim Toyota launched the new 2020 Toyota GR Supra in the UAE, much to the delight of fans and loyalists across the country. With the all-new fifth-generation model, the legendary name returned to set the roads ablaze with a comeback only fitting of the Toyota Supra story, with the 2021 version launching a year later in October 2020.

In August 2020 Al-Futtaim Toyota shook up the lifestyle pickup segment with the introduction of the all-new eighth-generation Toyota Hilux Adventure. This was the first time ever that the Hilux is available as a retail model in the UAE, meaning that it is no longer limited to dominating the commercial-use sector.

About Al-Futtaim Automotive

Al-Futtaim Automotive, one of the main five operating divisions within the UAE-based Al-Futtaim Group of companies, is a conglomerate of motoring-related businesses, franchising some of the world’s most-recognized automotive brands and services.

Operating in 10 countries across the Middle East, Asia and Africa and empowered by around 9,000 associates, the UAE-headquartered Group’s services span across distribution of new and used vehicles, manufacturing, leasing, and aftersales.

Ranging from passenger cars to SUVs, commercial vehicles, industrial and construction equipment as well as motorbikes and quads, Al-Futtaim Automotive Group offers an integrative customer-centric experience for motorists, fleet operators and contractors alike, and strives to become the leader in tailor-made mobility solutions.

About Al-Futtaim Group

Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and health; employing more than 33,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, we partner with over 200 of the world’s most admired and innovative brands.

Al-Futtaim Group’s entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organisation to continue to grow and expand; responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate.

By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration, integrity, Al-Futtaim Group continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers each and every day. For more information visit: www.alfuttaim.com