For The Record
Since this interview was conducted and first published, H.E. Sheikh Hassan’s on a personal level to keep the self>>> In 2002, he took over as team manager honour roll has grown. However, one of the landmark competition working as long as I can. In of the country’s F2000 team and the achievements was his successful second attempt at the the next few days, I will start a new following year, became president of Trans-Gulf Powerboat Crossing World Record. Along with the QMSF, overseeing the formation Qatari racing colleague Abdullah Al-Sulaiti, HE Sheikh Hassan challenge; to set the first Trans-Gulf of the Qatar 96 Class 1 team, making entered the Guinness World Record books by completing the record from Abu Dhabi to Doha on his debut in the class at Plymouth passage between Abu Dhabi and Qatar in a time of one hour the water at a calculated distance of that same season. 55 minutes and 14 seconds. Their vessel, the “Qatar Challenger” 300km in around two hours. crossed the finish line in Doha Bay ahead of schedule after Among many other disciplines, reaching speeds in excess of 200km/h. “I am so happy to have You are heavily involved in achieved the goal,” said the Sheikh at the time. “When I saw the raising awareness for the Qatar he has test driven both Formula Doha skyline in the distance I would have carried the boat to Orphan Foundation. Can you tell 2 and Class 2 powerboats, and is the finish! To have broken down in 2008 just 10 miles after us a little bit about your work for this responsible for the Class 1 races in leaving Abu Dhabi was heartbreaking, but we were fantastic charity? Every sportsman is Doha. He has also used his standing better prepared this time and this is a fantastic an ambassador when travelling, and what I and influence to raise awareness for the achievement for Abdullah, myself and was trying to do as a team principle is to create Qatar Orphan Foundation through the all the team at the QMSF.” awareness for such an organisation abroad. It’s very Class 1 team. rare, on a global scale, that you see the combination You have been involved in top flight motorsport for more than between such organisations and sport so we wanted to let people around a decade now, representing Qatar in competitions all over the the world know that orphaned children should be able to integrate in world. What is your proudest moment and why? Our proudest society and should not be treated any differently than other kids. They moments were winning the European Championship in 2005, being enjoy sports and can be part of our sport at any level. It is for that reason, a runner up at the 2006 World Championships and achieving the when we travel, we explain that such a high class institution like the Qatar title of Key West World Champion in 2009. All of these were targets Orphan Foundation is not like any other around the world, especially set for the year and accomplishing them was not as easy as setting with the facilities they have. For us, it’s also a way of opening new lines them. It takes hard work and dedication from team members, crew of communication between these organisations and local foundations. and personnel to make this happen, plus the right combination of You have an open forum here, so if you had one message to give to driver and throttelman to make it to the finish line. the public about the Qatar Orphan Foundation, what would it be? With such an impressive list of honours, on and off the water, I would ask everyone to go and visit the Qatar Orphan Foundation your accomplishments speak for themselves, but what is the and appreciate what they do for children. There are memberships inspiration behind your success? What drives you on to keep available to anyone who wants to get involved, allowing the public to competing, when you have already achieved so much? Challenges participate in any number of ways. are the best things in life and I love to challenge myself to be one of the high achievers. I look for more and more challenging competition, This interview was originally published by Firefly Communications in and when the season is over, I work on setting challenges to myself the June 2010 edition of “Dana Jewels” magazine.
• sur la terre • up close & personal • passion •
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