Mercedes backs French racing drivers in Dubai

12.2.2008 - Dubai / Cairo / Stuttgart –

When the French Motor Sport Federation visited the United Arab Emirates for a training camp, they turned to Emirates Motor Company (EMC), the official distributor of Mercedes-Benz cars in Abu Dhabi, for assistance.

EMC provided an ML-Class, an R-Class and two award-winning G-Class SUVs to enable the eight-strong team of your motorsport drivers and a selection of written and TV media from France and the UK travel in supreme comfort for a week of planned activities that ended in a visit to the Dubai Autodrome for the first round of the Speedcar series in which team captain, Jean Alesi took part.

“This is the second time we have visited Dubai where we arranged a week of physical training as well as team bonding activities for the young drivers of the future,” said Morgan Caron, French Team Manager, Federation Francaise du Sport Automobile. “This is an invaluable experience for us and the drivers, who have an average age of just 19, because it gives them the opportunity to compare experiences and to learn more about themselves and the sport.”

This year team members will take part in some of the world’s leading race series including GP2, GP2 Asia, Formula 3 Euro Series championship and Champ Car in America.

Team caption and mentor, former Ferrari Formula One star Jean Alesi, described the week as the best yet.

“We were able to help the young drivers focus on activities inside and outside the cockpit helping them to become more complete drivers. Our ultimate goal is to help them graduate to Formula One, the highest level of the sport.”

Team captain Jean Alesi (third from left), who is posing with the young French motorsport drivers in the picture, told me last year at the Abu Dhabi F1 Festival that he sees some great motor-sport potential in the Middle East region.