Pakistan’s first auto racer to drive home Musharraf message
KARACHI: When Nur Ali, Pakistan’s first professional racing driver, takes part in next month’s inaugural A1 GP series in Britain, a place on the podium is not his only mission.
The 30-year-old will also be trying to rehabilitate the image of young Pakistanis worldwide after a flurry of speculation about the country’s links to the deadly July 7 London bombings. And his orders come direct from none other than President General Pervez Musharraf. “The first race is in Britain where so many innocents lost their lives, so it’s a chance for me to redeem the Pakistani community by winning,” said Ali, one of 25 drivers in the race on September 25.
“I want to drive for Pakistan and for its youth,” said Texas-based Ali, whose car was inaugurated by Musharraf in Lahore in February. Ali said he met the general in Los Angeles two years ago and Musharraf instantly enlisted him as an ambassador of Pakistan’s “softer side”.
“Musharraf was surprised that I was involved in motor racing and not in cricket or basketball,” said Ali, winner of the US Southwest Regional Car Rally in 2001 and 2002. “He told me to drive home the point that Pakistan youth are constructive. Some rotten apples have tainted the worldwide image of Pakistani youth, and I want to clear that misconception.”
The A-1 Grand Prix, the brainchild of Sheikh Maktoum of Dubai, has been billed as the “World Cup of motorsport” as drivers compete for their countries, unlike high-profile Formula One where they represent car manufacturers.
The London race will be followed by races every second Sunday in various countries until the 12th race in Beijing in March decides the overall winner. Driving was Ali’s childhood passion and he used to navigate for his father when they lived in Europe during his childhood. He says his ideal is Formula One driver Juan Pablo Montoya of Colombia, while his India’s Narian Karthikeyan also inspires him.
“I have not met Karthikeyan but his entry into Formula One is a great motivation for me,” he said. For the race at the famed Brands Hatch circuit in southern England, Ali will compete against strong teams from Britain, Australia, Canada, France, India and United States, possibly including some former Formula One drivers. The rules are similar to Formula One, a fact that encourages Ali. “Let me win the A-1 first and then the next step would be the more prestigious and challenging F1,” he vowed. afp
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