Updated 11:24 AM,Sep 28,2023
Al-Futaim Automotive has unveiled a new motorsports division, reinforcing its commitment to motorsports in the UAE. The new division aims to expand the company’s support and presence across all forms of motorsports, including rally, circuit racing, and esports.
The division will support key brands in the UAE: Toyota Gazoo Racing and Lexus F Performance, offering high-performance variants of renowned models such as the Toyota GR Supra, Toyota Land Cruiser GR Sport, Lexus RC F, Lexus GS F, and LF-A.
Toyota boasts a global legacy in motorsports spanning five decades of success in world championships, including WRC, Formula 1, FIA Cross Country Rally, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Toyota vehicles have consistently embodied the spirit of motorsports at the highest level—from the Toyota Yaris GR to the Toyota Hilux, which achieved notable victories in events like Dakar Rally, Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, and Dubai Desert Challenge (Dubai Baja).
Lexus has a strong record in competitive racing, making its debut in motorsports through the historic Daytona 24 Hours in 2002 and securing three consecutive wins in that race between 2006 and 2008. The brand entered the UAE motorsports scene with the creation of the first-ever dedicated drift racing car—the Lexus RC F—unveiled globally at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2019, followed by the launch of the first Lexus F Owners Club in the region. Since then, Lexus has competed strongly across multiple categories, from GT3 and GT4 series to endurance races, hill climbs, desert rallies, drift competitions, and more.
The new Al-Futaim Motorsports division extends Lexus’s successful legacy, supporting the UAE’s motorsports community through collaborations with major local events such as Autocross UAE Challenge, Dubai Desert Challenge (Dubai Baja), and Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. It also aims to nurture emerging talent via the Toyota Gazoo Racing Academy, a driver development program launched earlier this year.
A dedicated team led by Ala Al-Turkana, Motorsports Manager for both Al-Futaim Toyota and Al-Futaim Lexus, will oversee the division’s operations, driving Al-Futaim Automotive’s mission to promote motorsports in the UAE and highlight the exceptional performance of Toyota GR and Lexus F Performance models.
The new division will immediately begin executing its event calendar, starting with supporting the UAE’s participation in the Toyota Gazoo Racing Middle East and North Africa Esports Championship. The top two finishers will qualify for the regional finals in Amman, Jordan, in October.
This will be followed by partnerships with various motorsports events across the UAE, including the Dubai Desert Challenge (Dubai Baja) and Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, among others to be announced soon. The second edition of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Academy is planned for later this year, aiming to discover and develop untapped driving talent throughout the country.
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