QMSF President HE Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor al-Thani (behind right) with the junior hydro racers.
UK-based Nauticpromo has signed an initial two-year agreement with the Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF) to run a new J Hydro marine racing series in Doha.
Two race weekends have been planned at the end of February and at the end of March. The programme will be run on behalf of Nauticpromo by the experienced American hydroplane racer J W Myers, who worked alongside the QMSF in February 2013 to give a select group of Qatari youngsters the opportunity to test a number of J Stock Hydros during the Oryx Cup UIM World Championship race weekend. “We are so proud to have been chosen by the QMSF to promote this programme,” enthused JW Myers, Racing Manager, Nauticpromo. “The ‘teaser’ event that was put on during the Oryx Cup was really successful and we look forward to developing the skills of these promising young Qatari racers.”
One of those youngsters at the initial event in Doha Bay was Sheikh Nawaf bin Hassan al-Thani, the son of QMSF President His Excellency Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor al-Thani, and he will be one of the youngsters set to benefit from a full training programme with licensing, the aim being to teach youngsters, not only how to race but also to be respectful and professional in all aspects of race craft. “It is important that we continue to nurture and encourage young drivers to take up the sport and the J Hydro series will go a long way to putting the wheels in motion,” said Sheikh Hassan. “This is a fantastic opportunity for them to race and gain experience.”
“Our ultimate goal is to see a Qatari competing at the highest level of hydroplane racing,” added J WMyers. “We thank His Excellency Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor al-Thani for giving us this opportunity and we admire his desire to grow Qatari racing from grass roots to the highest level.”
The goal is to take the leading Qatari to a planned world championship event in the USA in 2014 and to hold the event in Doha in 2015. Nauticpromo is a marketing solutions company based in the south of England. It is run by Sian Holley and specialises in producing unique marketing solutions for the marine industry.
