On tour

Dubai-based Touring Car racer Aslam Moola talks about the challenges ahead

The Total UAE Touring Car concept provides some of the best racing seen on track. The series features Class 1 for 2000cc Turbo cars, Super Touring, S2000 2-wheel drive cars and Class 2 for 1601cc to 2000cc 2-wheel drive cars including the ‘race within a race’ Renault Clio Cup.

Since the 2009/2010 season, the Total UAE Touring Car Championship regulations have become more aligned with global Touring Car racing trends. The series features top UAE based drivers and a European based contingent is also expected for the 2011/2012 season. Races take place at Dubai Autodrome and Yas Marina Circuit.

With two wins at Dubai Autodrome in the first four races of the championship, Aslam Moola leads the championship standings and as a result has become the man to beat in the highly competitive Class 2 in the series.

A Dubai-based South African, Moola is part of the Emirates Racing Team, and acknowledges, “It’s been a great start to the season for me. I have felt more composed and significantly calmer at the wheel this year. I started both race weekends at the back of the grid and that made it really exciting.”

Moola started racing karts in South Africa during the nineties and did a season of Rotax karting when he first arrived in Dubai back in 2001. When the UAE Touring Car Championship was launched, it was the ticket he needed to get back behind the wheel.

“I chose UAE Touring Cars because it is really competitive and at the same time very sociable, and this has tremendous appeal to me,” said Moola, who is also the new business development manager for the Middle East for Shell Chemicals.

Moola says he is happy to be competing in the UAE in a quality touring car field. “It is encouraging to be part of a healthy field of competitors and to have already enjoyed really close racing. If I were offered four podiums before the start of the season, I would have accepted without a second thought. I wish there were more spectators to enjoy the motorsport in the UAE.

“Working my way from the back of the grid to podium finishes has been a huge gain in experience and confidence. The quality of the overall skill level has reached a level where we are now able to trust each other into racing wheel to wheel. This is a huge turn on for me,” revealed Moola.

With a great start to the season Moola is thinking about the challenging for the championship, which, for the past two years, has been won by Lap57 Honda driver Umair Khan.

He admitted, “I would obviously like to win the championship. I remember all too well, from my 2009/2010 campaign, how reliability issues can impact the result. So whilst it’s still early days, I am quietly confident that I have a championship winning car that needs to hold out for the rest of the season.”

Moola is quick to point out that his motorsport success is not a solo affair, but rather a true team effort. “Firstly I must thank my wife, Ayesha, my kids and my dear friend, Sajid, who have attended every race of mine even though they are not petrolheads by any measure. Secondly, David Ovey, for all the intellectual work he has provided over the recent years, and of course, the Emirates Racing Team who have supported me in this championship.”

david@khaleejtimes.com