Back in 2004, motor racing in the Middle East started to take hold. There was the first Bahrain Grand Prix that spring and by the end of the year the Dubai Autodrome hosted its first event as well.
Before long, Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait, and more recently Saudi Arabia with Jeddah and other projects in development, all boasted circuits as the sport took hold in the region, although it did take a little time to weed out the chancers and timewasters who saw the region as a cash cow. Rumour has it that Bernie Ecclestone first went to Dubai with his sales pitch for a grand prix but Dubai wasn’t as receptive as hoped, and hence went to Bahrain. Even so, Dubai developed a grade one circuit that could have hosted an F1 event.
“The sport is very healthy in the UAE”
Chris Norman
The Dubai Autodrome hosted its first event in October 2004, an LG Super Racing Weekend) but it marked the launch of a new venue and a commitment long-term to the sport. It also felt very British: the British Automobile Racing Club ran the event and the senior management of the circuit was made up of former Silverstone stalwarts Hamish Brown and Brian Pallet. When Pallet returned to the UK to run Donington Park, Chris Norman took up managing the circuit and also building its future.
