 F1 Drivers Called on for Dubai Showdown Thursday April 4th, 2002
The race, set to take place on a newly-developed street circuit, aims to allow leading lights from NASCAR and ChampCar racing to take on top drivers in Formula One. Former 1970s Grand Prix racer Rupert Keegan and former ChampCar promoter Andrew Craig have been planning the race for more than a year and are liasing with F3000 boss David Sears to gauge the Formula One interest. "It has been okayed it is just whether we do it this year or next year," said Sears. "I have been asked to get a few drivers on board. The ChampCar and Nascar drivers have already said yes, so it is just a case of getting the F1 guys. "I have spoken to various people about it. The response was quite good. Some of them don't want to do it and some cannot be released by their teams, but we shall see." Keegan is in negotiations with officials in Dubai, who are keen to stage the event on a circuit which runs through the streets of the gold-soaked city, although the track has yet to be approved by the FIA. He is hoping to use specially-designed cars to create a race in which driver skill will be directly tested by the use of equal machinery, and Keegan said: "I want to create a race that will produce a world-class event for Dubai." Organisers are pushing to run the event this winter but it is likely that the showdown will be set for 2003, and a Formula One team insider insisted the potential prize money could tempt the Grand Prix stars. "I don't think the drivers would object because $1 million dollars is a lot of money to any driver," he said. "There has always been this thing between ChampCar and Formula One drivers as to who has the biggest balls, and this would go some way to solving that." However, the Formula One 'off-season' is as busy as the season itself, so several of the teams may find it difficult to allow their drivers to compete in a glamour race such as this. Williams declined to comment on whether they would consider releasing former ChampCar champion Juan Pablo Montoya for the event, but there could be potential problems from other teams. "It is a critical time for the teams," said a paddock source. "To risk a driver competing in a race series in Dubai and potentially coming back injured would require some serious thought."
Published at 15:21:55 GMT
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Drivers from Formula One have been invited to take on rivals from America in a $1 million-plus showdown in Dubai, which could happen as early as December this year.
(03-11-2005): 
