KARACHI: The Organisers of the Hub Rally have set their sights on building a Formula One track in Pakistan. Chief organiser Shujaat Sherwani said on Wednesday that they are looking to transform their Max Dirt Arena into that in the future.

“It’s our dream to launch Formula One racing in Pakistan once the track is ready is prepared,” Sherwani told a news conferemce on Wednesday as he unveiled the details of the fifth Hub Rally. “It’s a gigantic task but we’re hopeful of doing that.”

He revealed that he met Formula One development officials in Abu Dhabi a few months ago to discuss the possibilities of a joint venture with them.

“We’ve got excellent land in Hub for that purpose and I think we can achieve our objective,” Sherwani remarked.

Over 50 drivers will be in action during this year’s edition of the Hub Rally which begins from January 28.

Sherwani emphasised on the fast and furious nature of the rally as he noted that unlilke rallies in Gwadar, Cholistan and Jhal Magsi, this one ends in just a day.

“It’s like Twenty20 cricket where action is fast-paced,” he said, adding that iinvitations had been extended to about a dozen foreign consul generals to watch the race as guests of honour.

“We’re also launching an academy at the Max Dirt Arena under the supervision of Pakistan’s star drivers Ronnie Patel and Tushna Patel,” he added. “The duo would be extending training and coaching to emerging drivers to groom them for the future.”

Ronnie, the country’s top racing driver and former Cholistan and Jhal Magsi champion, said he was impressed the way the interest motorsport was growing in Pakistan.

“With the passage of time we are developing rules and regulations which are vital for the development and promotion of motor racing in Pakistan,” the veteran driver maintained.

“Foreign drivers from Australia, United Arab Emirates, South Africa and Thailand have been highly impressed with the local talent as well as the conditions of the off-road racing tracks in Pakistan when they come here for the Cholistan and Jhal Magsi rallies.

“We look forward to seeing foreign drivers in action in the next few years at the security situation in the country has greatly improved. And we are very lucky in Pakistan that we have natural racing tracks which are not available in other countries.”

Max Dirt Arena developer Asif Imam informed that the event will see competitions in eight categories with the premier ones of Prepared Class ‘A’ and ‘B’ seeing participants do two rounds of the 11km track with the winners being crowned on their times.

“The sandy, twisting Max Dirt Arena is a full test of skill for the racing drivers,” he added.

Toyota Highway Motors officials including director marketing Ahsan Sherwani and head of sales & marketing Shad Ali Khan were also present on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2018