Final 32 battle it out at the 2024 season of Toyota Gazoo Racing UAE Motorsport Academy
Participants switch seats from a go-kart to a Toyota GR Supra to prove their driving skills
Season 2 of the Toyota Gazoo Racing UAE Motorsport Academy is now underway. Following the audition round which saw the gathering of over a thousand applicants, 32 contestants advanced to the Qualifications stage of the programme based on competitive kart racing and an assessment of media skills.
For the unaware, the Toyota Gazoo Racing UAE Motorsport Academy is Al-Futtaim Toyota’s pioneering driver development programme created to develop and promote the next generation of motorsport talent in the UAE. The inaugural season amassed millions of viewers on Shahid, the Arab world’s biggest streaming platform, showcasing participants battling it out in high-octane intense off-road action for the ultimate prize. The 2024 season sees the action move onto the asphalt.
The final 32 candidates will switch seats from a go-kart into the Toyota GR Supra and get tasked to ace time attack and autocross rounds in the sports car. This year’s field of 32 qualifiers includes a split of 23 male and 9 female drivers, with 16 different nationalities represented and ages ranging from 18 to 57 years old. The 2024 season is taking place across four phases where the physical prowess, driving skills, media finesse, and mental acuity of competitors will be tested. From the initial 32, 16 participants will advance to the second round of Qualification, post which the group reduces to 8 for the Development phase, out of which 4 battle in the Finals to be crowned the Toyota Gazoo Racing UAE Ambassador for 2024.
Commenting on the initiative, Saad Abdullah, General Manager – Marketing, Toyota for Al-Futtaim Automotive, said: “After several rounds of intense auditions featuring highly competitive on-track action, it was incredibly tough narrowing it down to the finalists for the Qualifications stage of the Toyota Gazoo Racing UAE Motorsport Academy 2024. However, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the 32 qualifiers who will be progressing in the second season of the Academy. Whatever the outcome of the Qualifications stage, these 32 can be proud to be part of an elite cadre of drivers selected from thousands to be part of this pioneering driver development programme, and walk away with invaluable skills learned from seasoned motorsports professionals who are hosting the trials they will face. The Toyota Gazoo Racing UAE Motorsport Academy was conceptualised to serve as a platform to invest in the local motorsports community by developing skilled drivers, thereby reinforcing Al-Futtaim’s commitment to motorsport excellence in the region. Once again, the Academy further strengthens Toyota’s motorsports credentials and reinforces what the brand has stood for over the years: dependable performance and the ability to push the limits on what machine and man can do together.”
The entire Season 2 of the Toyota Gazoo Racing UAE Motorsport Academy will be available for viewing as a web series on Toyota UAE’s Youtube channel from June 16, 2024 onwards.
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