BearingPoint signs partnership with Abu Dhabi Racing
Global consulting firm BearingPoint has signed a five year sponsorship deal with Abu Dhabi Racing. As part of the deal, BearingPoint’s brand will be carried by Abu Dhabi Racing at some of the world’s top Circuit Racing events.
Launched at the end of 2012, Abu Dhabi Racing is an Abu Dhabi-based company that aims at bolstering the emirate’s presence in global motorsport. The organisation is headed by two active rally and racing drivers: Sheikh Khalid Al Qassim (chairman and one of the UAE’s most experienced rally drivers) and Khaled Al Qubaisi (Managing Director, one of the UAE’s leading circuit racing drivers, and the first Emirati to contest in the 24 Hours of Le Mans). To realise its objective, Abu Dhabi Racing focuses on among other developing drivers, improving the local infrastructure and securing partnerships with global experts to professionalise the sport in the region.
To further achieve its long term objective, Abu Dhabi Racing last week struck a deal with management and IT consulting firm BearingPoint. “We are delighted to have BearingPoint as a partner. Since the launch of Abu Dhabi Racing we have continued to work hard to secure strategic partnerships to promote Abu Dhabi and the next group of UAE National motor sport drivers with the opportunities, facilities and guidance to compete on a professional level internationally,” comments Al Qubaisi.
The announcement came days before the 10th edition of the Hankook 24H Dubai race, which took place at the Dubai Autodrome from 8 to 10 January. Al Qubaisi, who scored back-to-back wins in the 2012 and 2013 editions of the race, was one of the favourites for the win with his Black Falcon Mercedes, yet was disappointingly forced to retire after a collision. “We had all elements to win but this is motorsport, sometimes you win and sometimes you don’t. The mechanics tried their best to fix the damage but the chassis was also affected so we decided to stop." The good news for his team though was that its second car, a MercedesAMG, ultimately crossed the finish line in first place, after 24 gruelling hours and more than 600 laps.
In addition to the Hankook 24H Dubai race, the Abu Dhabi Racing team will promote BearingPoint’s brand across a range of global motorsport races, including among others the FIA World Endurance Championship. “BearingPoint is excited to sponsor Abu Dhabi Racing in increasing Emirati participation in various global motorsport series. We believe this sponsorship will help Abu Dhabi Racing in building and supporting new Emirati drivers to reach the highest level of competition globally. We believe in commitment, teamwork, excellence, passion and stewardship and therefore sponsoring Abu Dhabi Racing is something that matches our core values perfectly well,” says Riku Santala, the Partner responsible for BearingPoint’s Middle-East business.
BearingPoint last year established its first offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
