Gulf in class – Saudi Arabia told to improve grassroots motorsports to succeed at the top

Not many aspiring race drivers from Saudi Arabia will be aware of the 1980s British stock car scene – but those wet, windy days of 40 years ago inspired a passion in motorsport for one man now looking to boost interest in the Middle East.

Ryan Trutch grew up watching all forms of motorsport with his father and was hooked on Nigel Mansell, Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost before going on to compete in several different series himself after his family relocated to Dubai.

Now, having previously served on the UAE national motorsports development committee and worked as commercial director of the Dubai Autodrome, Trutch is the CEO and founder of Pole Position, a consultancy and events business with aims of driving up grassroots commitments to motorsport.

“It’s grown exponentially - we've gone from a few passionate racers driving on makeshift tracks to hosting world-class events like F1, Formula E, Extreme E, and Dakar, drawing large audiences,” Trutch tells Autosport Business when asked how motorsport has changed in the region since his arrival in the 1990s.

“More importantly, there’s now serious investment in motorsport infrastructure and an aspiration to produce a driver from the region for F1. However, there’s a lack of continuity when it comes to grassroots development.

“I remember a press release once stated that the UAE wanted a driver in F1 within five years — a noble goal, but unrealistic. Developing that kind of talent typically takes a decade or more with the right structure in place.

“The main challenge is sustainability. Most grassroots initiatives are tied to major events, and when those events move on, little remains. Tracks aren’t running enough year-round programmes, and even the venues themselves need better commercial models to make the most of their infrastructure.

“We don’t have the 100-year motorsport legacy of Europe. In the 1980s here, wealthy enthusiasts supported a thriving rally scene. Twenty years ago, Emiratis like Khaled Al Qubaisi entered circuit racing. Now, his daughters are in F1 Academy, which is great to see.”

Amna Al Qubaisi, MP Motorsport

Photo by: Jordan McKean - Motorsport Images

Pole Position set up in Saudi Arabia three years ago with a focus on introducing sim racing to the region to act as a pathway through to motorsport.

Trutch admits there is much to be done and has highlighted the main cause for the drop-off in driver numbers.

“There’s huge potential, especially with what's happening in Saudi Arabia, but the gap between passion and progression remains wide,” he explains. “The region is full of eager young talent, but there's still no clearly defined development path.

“Karting is strong in the UAE, and there are steps like F4 and the Renault Clio Cup, which is relatively affordable. But most participants are expats who often leave for university in the US or Europe. That’s where the drop-off happens - they’re away from the local scene for four to five years and may never return.

“I believe we need an engineering university here - something like Cranfield in the UK - to keep talent rooted in the region.

“The culture is evolving. Kids are sim racing before they even learn to drive. The passion exists - it just needs direction, and that’s where companies like mine come in.”

Trutch also feels that drivers from the Gulf region will soon start finding seats in series across the globe as the local talent pool continues to deepen.

“In Saudi Arabia, growth is coming because of the government support, the diverse terrain, and the engaged youth population,” he adds.

“The pace of development is incredible - just look at the major events they've hosted and what’s coming with Qiddiya. But it’s not an easy place to navigate as a business.

“Drivers like Edward Jones came through karting programmes I helped run. The Qubaisi sisters are also rising stars. More locally developed talent is now competing abroad.

“These are still isolated cases. But with alignment between federations, ministries, sponsors, and development platforms, we’ll see more names from the Gulf reaching global championships.

“Our latest initiative is launching the Sim Racing World Championship, aligned with the FIA’s new Esports regulations. It will span multiple disciplines, with global online qualifiers and a major final hosted in a tourism destination.

“But, unlike other Esports events, we’re not chasing big prize money. We’re creating a path for underprivileged talent worldwide to earn a shot in real-world motorsports. Watch this space!”