Yas Heat headquartered at Yas Marina Circuit, has launched a groundbreaking grassroots initiative designed to discover and develop young Emirati motorsport talent.
The first programme of its kind, Yas Heat Academy – AL SABQ, will take place on Saturday,10 May 2025, at Yas Kartzone, serving as a national platform for boys and girls aged 5 to 6 to demonstrate their potential behind the wheel.
Entry is free, but pre-registration by May 7th is required due to limited capacity.
AL SABQ – The root word implies preceding, surpassing, or coming first, so it carries connotations of leadership, excellence, and being ahead, which makes it a powerful name for a youth motorsport program. The program consists of a full-day assessment that will see the junior karters participate in time trials, fitness challenges and driving behaviour evaluations. The most promising young drivers (two boys and one girl) will get a fully-funded racing seat in local Bambino championship events, as well as an official entry into the Yas Heat Academy’s development programme.
Ali Al Beshr, General Manager of Yas Marina Circuit, said: “This initiative marks a significant milestone in our long-term vision to grow national talent and elevate the UAE’s presence in global motorsports. AL SABQ is more than a competition, it’s a national initiative to unearth and nurture talent from the very beginning, in full alignment with Yas Heat Racing Academy’s vision to build on the UAE’s established racing culture and create a clear path for developing the next generation of single-seater racing talent.”
Since its inception, Yas Heat has become a launchpad for rising stars in international motorsport. Graduates such as Keanu Al Azhari, now racing in the GB3 Championship, and Hamda Al Qubaisi, a podium finisher in the F1 Academy, Rashid Al Dhaheri, now racing in the Formula Regional European Championship are clear examples of YAS Heat’s success.
Other Yas Heat graduates include Matteo Quintarelli, now competing in the Asian Le Mans Series, while Zack Scoular recently earned a runner-up finish in the Formula Regional Oceania Championship. The current Yas Heat roster continues this momentum, with Adam Al Azhari and August Raber contesting in the British Formula 4 Championship.