Dubai prince aims to Sheikh up the motorsport world

Published on Sunday 18 September 2005 00:38

THE Dubai prince who has bankrolled motorsport's new A1 Grand Prix series hopes next weekend's inaugural race at Brands Hatch proves he is "not the only nut out there".

Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum, who first dreamed up the World Cup of Motorsport concept, backing it with millions from his own pocket, will see his investment bear fruit at the famous Kent track.

The A1GP concept will pit 25 one-car national teams against each other over 13 race weekends in nations on six continents.

Maktoum said: "The best ideas are really simple but sometimes it takes a blind man to see the obvious. I started off being called a dreamer but now I am apparently a visionary."

A key part of Maktoum's plan has been to bring motor racing to countries previously not associated with the sport. There are teams representing Pakistan, Lebanon and Russia while negotiating races in grand prix-free countries such as Indonesia and Dubai.

Maktoum said: "I listened to fans and manufacturers and sponsors, looked at Le Mans and NASCAR and extracted the best of all the industry."

The prince has gone to great lengths to ensure all nations have the same opportunity to succeed. "We have equal cars, equal tyres, equal everything," he said.