Al Ameri braces for new challenges at Yas Marina

Abu Dhabi - CEO gets ready for his second term and second F1 show

Al Tareq Al Ameri completed his first season as CEO of the Yas Marina Circuit and as he braces up his for second term and a second Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Emirati said that it has been an exciting and challenging journey.
Formerly the Circuit's Commercial Director, a post he held since 2012 after a career in Abu Dhabi Aviation, Al Ameri was groomed and took over from Richard Cregan in March last year.
"The journey has been exciting, challenging, and at times, stressful. There are a lot of activities that needs to happen to host a mega event like Formula One. We are fortunate to have a very strong team at the Yas Marina Circuit and a understanding support network of stakeholders, which makes it a lot easier. This year, I think we are on a good progress rate and we are looking ahead to another exciting event to be hosted here at the Yas Marina Circuit, the final race of the season and yes, we are really excited about it," Al Tareq Al Ameri said in an interview.
The UAE National said that the biggest challenge that he faced was in getting a grasp of the elements involved in hosting an event as big as a Grand Prix.
"The biggest challenge that I faced, to be honest is to comprehend the level of activities. For example, we start planning for the next event just right after the previous event has ended. Maybe, it is just a matter of one week off, until we start. So, it is a year of work to prepare for an event like this. And through the year, there are different sectors we have to deal with and the level of activities become high in all of them. So, it was trying to wrap my head around the level of activities that need to be in place," said the 35-year-old.
The Grand Prix has been the season finale since its inaugural race in 2009 and Al Tareq Al Ameri said that they were keen to keep that slot. There was speculation earlier this year that the UAE Capital may not be the season-ender because of logistical issues after a record 21 races were penciled in, provisionally.
But the FIA released a revised provisional schedule after its World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris on Wednesday, and that sees Abu Dhabi remain as the season finale. "The finale has been very good for us. To me, it suits and fits the venue and closes the season in a big and festive way. The fans love it and it is a really good time of the year for us. The teams love it and the organisers love it as well," he said.
The Yas Marina Circuit is only the second venue in the Middle East after Bahrain to host an F1 race. It also plays hosts to a plethora of events but the missing piece maybe is a MotoGP race. Al Tareq Al Ameri said that they were evaluating ideas.
"We are not excluding anything and we are not committing to anything as well. Here, at the Circuit, we always investigate and evaluate ideas which will be beneficial to the Yas Marina Circuit," he said.
james@khaleejtimes.com