UP, the newest team for the Speedcar Series
The pair has been announced as the latest driving team partnership in the Pan-Asian and Middle Eastern championships, which kicks-off at the Dubai Autodrome circuit, MotorCity, on January 26th 2008.
Sh. Hasher al Maktoum is 22 years old, and is the first Emirati confirmed as a Speedcar driver, and is set to be an enormous hit with fans in the region. He is the current UAE Karting Champion, has competed in Formula Renault Campus, and will drive Speedcar number 85 carrying the name of MotorCity.
David Terrien, 31, will pilot Speedcar number 20 carrying the name of Union Properties. He is a former multiple-time karting champion, French Formula Ford and Eurocup champion, winner of the Sports Car World Cup and the FIA N-GT World Championship. He has also taken part in the Le Mans 24 Hours, and is part of the management team at Dubai Autodrome.
The UP team is backed by Union Properties PJSC (UP), one of the United Arab Emirates leading property investment developers. UP delivers a comprehensive range of superior developments with more than 20 years of attention to detail with a portfolio of some of the most iconic landmarks in commercial, residential and leisure developments, including MotorCity, F1 Theme Park, Dubai Autodrome, Uptown and Green Community.
Sheikh Hasher Al Maktoum said, "Motorsport is constantly growing in profile and popularity in Asia and the Middle East, and for this reason I am looking forward with great anticipation to getting out on the track in front of the local fans especially as a UAE driver and enjoying the competition with so many well-known and well-established drivers. As an Emirati it is fantastic that our promoters, UP, are a UAE company too".
David said, "It is a fantastic to finally be able to announce that I am returning to the track in the Speedcar Series, which I am very grateful to UP for the confidence they have placed in me." Terrien added, "The championship has grown throughout 2007 and I know that my fellow competitors and I cannot wait for the first race of the season in Dubai. Together with Sh. Hasher, my team-mate, we have an invaluable blend of experience and youth which I am sure will be a vital factor in our challenge for the first ever Speedcar title".
The UP team will be one of nine pioneering teams taking part in the inaugural Speedcar Series. Six additional cars will be run centrally by championship organizers.