Spinal Injury Research for Cross-Country Rallies

sandy-crashThe first phase of the research aimed at the reduction of spinal injuries in the cross-country rallies worldwide was conducted by the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE in conjunction with the FIA, motor sport’s world governing body, and the Global Institute for Motor Sport Safety (GIMSS).

Up to 20 of the 62 cars contesting in this year’s Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, a round of the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies and FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship, were fitted with accident data recorders (ADRs) to measure the amount of g-force that drivers and co-drivers are exposed to during the event.

The data will be used in tandem with the latest virtual vehicle crash simulator technology to design a new state-of-the-art driver cockpit safety package including seats that give competitors a new level of protection from the threat of spinal injuries.

“To begin with, the research will give us a better understanding of the cause and extent of spinal injuries that competitors can be susceptible to in cross country rallies,” said ATCUAE President and MKI Chairman, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

“The aim is to lessen the threat of spinal injuries in cross-country rallies by creating a driver cockpit safety package using crash simulations with virtual reproduction of injury mechanisms.”

The latest technology will be used to detail analysis of bone fractures, severed ligaments, and other injuries that can occur during the kind of impact that cars endure in cross country rallies like the Desert Challenge.

“We want to know exactly what amount of g-force can result in a competitor’s spine being broken,” said Dr. Sean Petherbridge, the ATCUAE’s chief medical officer, who works on the study alongside a Global Institute for Motor Sport Safety (GIMSS) specialists.

“The objective is to design cross country rally seats which do not break under normal operation but which compress to absorb the energy in high impact situations in order to protect the spine.”

ATCUAE launches Recovery E-Learning for Global Motorsport Community

The ATCUAE, as an FIA-appointed officials safety training provider, has launched the latest e-learning module on best practices for recovery of open-wheeled racecars. As part of the FIA Sport Grant Programme, this course was prepared in cooperation with the FIA Safety Department. The course is hosted on ATCUAE’s e-learning platform and is available to clubs and officials worldwide free of charge. It was prepared with support of the FIA Sports.

The course is the first initiative to summarize, structure and present best practice principals of recovery (lift, carry, load and unload) of open-wheeled racecars. By the conclusion of the course, participants will develop an understanding of different methods for safe, efficient and quick recovery of race vehicles during a race. The module contains multiple videos demonstrating good and bad practices, the later have been recreated from real life scenarios that happened at different venues over the past few years. This e-learning module is designed to assist sporting organizers and in particular recovery chiefs in training their team members.

“Safety has always been and will always be a top priority of the FIA. This course proliferates the best practices for motorsport on a global scale, to get the knowledge to the entire motorsport community,” said Jean Todt, FIA President.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, ATCUAE President and FIA Vice President stated, “We continuously strive for excellence, innovation and the highest safety standards in everything we do. This new module is more proof of that, using our e-learning platform to deliver international best practices in safe vehicle recovery.”

The core of this course was designed by ATCUAE senior official, Alan Rooke, Recovery Chief for Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Alan was responsible for recruiting, training and retention of the F1 recovery team since year one.

The course can be found on the ATCUAE’s e-learning platform at //localhost:3000/mki-2019 learning together.

UAE Will Organise FIM Training for Cross-Country Rallies Senior Sporting Officials

The Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) / UAE Motorcycle Club (UAEMC) will host an FIM-led training for FIM Cross-Country Rallies Clerks of Course and Sporting Stewards on August 27-28, 2016.

Taking into account the popularity of the Emirates Desert Championship and Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, it is important to grow the number of FIM licenced officials to look after national and international off-road motorcycling events in the country.

The seminar is open for registration to FMNs worldwide and we look forward to welcome our colleagues from abroad to exchange best practice and enjoy the learning together.

UAE Organizes FIM Technical Workshop to License Motorsport Officials

The Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) organized recently an FIM Technical Steward’s training seminar at its headquarters in Al Mamzar, Dubai.

Trainees taking part in the workshop learn the skills and regulations required to ensure that motorcycles taking part in international competitions, such as the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, and the Moto GP meet the required technical standards of the FIM, motorcycle sport’s worldwide governing body.

“In the last twenty years, the popularity of motorcycle sport in the GCC has exploded and it is fantastic to now see international level road racing, motocross, and rallying now taking place here to a very high standard”, said Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of ATCUAE and EMSF.

“Working with the FIM to organise this workshop helps us to sustain this development and expand further, and we will hopefully see the number of national and international events grow in the seasons to come, as well as introducing new motorcycle disciplines to the region”.

The training seminar, which covers all disciplines of motorcycling, was conducted on behalf of the FIM by Mr. Peter Radoczi, who represents Slovakia on the FIM International Technical Commission (CTI), and was attended by participants from various clubs around the region.

Spinal Injury Research for Cross-Country Rallies

sandy-crashThe first phase of the research aimed at the reduction of spinal injuries in the cross-country rallies worldwide was conducted by the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE in conjunction with the FIA, motor sport’s world governing body, and the Global Institute for Motor Sport Safety (GIMSS).

Up to 20 of the 62 cars contesting in this year’s Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, a round of the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies and FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship, were fitted with accident data recorders (ADRs) to measure the amount of g-force that drivers and co-drivers are exposed to during the event.

The data will be used in tandem with the latest virtual vehicle crash simulator technology to design a new state-of-the-art driver cockpit safety package including seats that give competitors a new level of protection from the threat of spinal injuries.

“To begin with, the research will give us a better understanding of the cause and extent of spinal injuries that competitors can be susceptible to in cross country rallies,” said ATCUAE President and MKI Chairman, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

“The aim is to lessen the threat of spinal injuries in cross-country rallies by creating a driver cockpit safety package using crash simulations with virtual reproduction of injury mechanisms.”

The latest technology will be used to detail analysis of bone fractures, severed ligaments, and other injuries that can occur during the kind of impact that cars endure in cross country rallies like the Desert Challenge.

“We want to know exactly what amount of g-force can result in a competitor’s spine being broken,” said Dr. Sean Petherbridge, the ATCUAE’s chief medical officer, who works on the study alongside a Global Institute for Motor Sport Safety (GIMSS) specialists.

“The objective is to design cross country rally seats which do not break under normal operation but which compress to absorb the energy in high impact situations in order to protect the spine.”

World’s first E-learning platform for the global motorsports officials launched for FIA members

 

Sheikh-NahayanMotorsports first global e-learning platform for volunteer officials developed by ATCUAE was launched by the 14-times Middle East Rally Champion Mohammed Ben Sulayem in conjunction with the UAE’s Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development and Chairman of the General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare, HE Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan on November 17th 2015.

The service is available via computer, tablet or smart phone on www.mki.test/e-academy and will allow motorsport officials and volunteers from around the world to upgrade their skills on a range of courses. No fees are charged to those using unique membership card numbers provided to each National Sporting Authority (ASN).

The first three modules deal with subjects that have been in demand from the motorsport community in recent years. The first is termed psychological first aid and is designed to support psychological needs of officials who have dealt with or witnessed a traumatising incident. The second is titled Media Crisis Communication and the third –Critical Incident Management for Chief Medical Officers.

The UAE have become increasingly active destination for international sporting events of every kind, ‘and we have concluded nothing is more important than safety’, said the Minister.

FIA President Jean Todt said “Motorsport officials need constant training to be able to ensure we maintain highest safety standards in our sport, a goal the FIA is relentlessly striving for. I welcome ATCUAE’s online learning platform, which allows volunteers to develop their knowledge at a time and place that best suits them. It is in line with the willingness of the FIA to offer a comprehensive framework for its member National Sporting Authorities to provide high-grade training to their personnel on the ground under Annex V of the International Sporting Code. I am looking forward to see initiatives such as ATCUAE’s to be replicated in the region and beyond.”

“ This is aboue-academy-colort the motorsport volunteer and making knowledge and information available to them in an easy and convenient way so that they can develop skills to make our sport better and safer from the comfort of their own home‘’ said Ben Sulayem, President of ATCUAE which celebrates its 50th anniversary this month.

ATCUAE were awarded RTP status by the FIA Institute in 2011 and since then via its dedicated educated arm the Motorsport Knowledge Institute (MKI) have provided training to over 2500 students in 22 countries covering South America, Africa, Europe, Middle East and Asia. MKI have also undertaken a number of research projects on volunteerism at the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and train 1000 domestic volunteers on an annual basis.

A number of courses of new courses will be gradually introduced throughout the year and Ben Sualyem stressed that they welcome ideas from the motorsport family on future subjects.  The courses include video lectures, quizzes, case studies and a final test, the successful completion of which entitles the student to receive the certificate of completion in the topic concerned.

 

UAE TRAINING TEAM HELPS DRIVE MOTOR SPORT IN GEORGIA

ATCUAE  Georgia training
ATCUAE to extend overseas exchange programme with more live training at F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Dubai, UAE, 01 June, 2015: The Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE is continuing to play a key role in the development of motor sport in Georgia as part of its ongoing international training efforts.
A four-man team from the Club’s training and education arm, the Motorsport Knowledge Institute (MKI), has just returned from the Georgian capital, Tbilisi after carrying out a two-day safety training programme for race officials.
Training took place at the Rustavi International Motorpark, a 4.1 km race track which was the last circuit built in the former Soviet Union and is scheduled to stage international series racing by the Georgian Automobile Sporting Federation (GASF).

More than 60 GASF officials took part in the programme which was conducted in Russian and English and combined classroom training and race simulations on track.

Georgian officials will next attend the 2016 FI Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November for more live MKI training as part of an exchange programme which the ATCUAE has been running for the last five years.

“Our training teams are very committed and are doing some great work to assist our counterparts in many parts of the world to develop motor sport in their countries,” said ATCUAE President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

The MKI previously conducted a three three-day training course in Tbilisi two years ago concentrating on the organisation and delivery of safe and successful rallies.

The latest programme was the 27th to be delivered by the ATCUAE across the Middle East, Africa, Europe and South America since it was awarded Regional Training Provider status by the FIA Institute in December 2012.
Ends.

The Motorsport Knowledge Institute (MKI) travels to Dhaka to advise and assist the Automobile Association of Bangladesh (AAB) with starting grassroots motorsport in the country.

Outside the Bangladeshi Parliament building with the MKI team is AAB Vice-President Asfar Hossain

Young Driver Excellence Academy 2014

After three days of tests and evaluations at Abu Dhabi’s at Yas Marina Circuit Panikos Polykarpou of Cyprus won a major boost for his motor sport career today by gaining selection to the FIA Institute’s 2015 Young Driver Excellence Academy.

Polykarpou earned his place in the fully-funded 2015 Academy programme based on his overall display on the track, in the classroom and the gymnasium at the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia qualifying event.

ATCUAE President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: “The Academy will give Panikos a great opportunity to take his career to another level, and it’s up to him now how far he goes. Each of the other drivers have gained a great deal of valuable experience and knowhow that can help them in their careers.”