Speedcafe Middle East Introduction

The world’s #1 independent motorsport news website.

Launching in the Middle East in 2024.

Introduction Speedcafe.com is a motorsport news website founded in 2009, offering comprehensive coverage and insights into the world of motorsport.

In the exhilarating world of motorsport where speed, precision and passion collide, there is one media platform that stands above the rest as the ultimate destination for racing enthusiasts, organisations, corporations and professionals alike.

Welcome to Speedcafe, your gateway to motorsport in the Middle East.

At Speedcafe, we are more than just a news outlet; we are the heartbeat of the motorsport community. With our finger on the pulse of every race, event and driver, we bring readers and viewers the latest breaking news, in-depth analysis and exclusive features that keep them ahead of the pack.

Our dedication to delivering accurate, comprehensive and engaging content sets us apart, ensuring that our audience stays informed and connected to their passion like never before.

Join us as we revolutionise the way motorsport fans and industry insiders consume news, insights and behind-the-scenes stories. Explore the power of Speedcafe.com as we propel you into the heart of the action and take your love for motorsport to new heights.

Motogp shot

From Strength to Strength Speedcafe’s global commitment to motorsport is unrivaled. Since its first full year in 2010, the news has experienced exponential growth across all aspects of visitor numbers, followers and engagements with its readership.

In 2023, more than 62 million page views were recorded by 7.4 million visitors. As of June 2023 page views are up 6% year-to-date on last year.

In the last 12 months Speedcafe has expanded its capability and reach through various mediums including written media, podcasts and video content. This has allowed Speedcafe to engage with its audience on multiple fronts, providing comprehensive coverage across different formats.

Speedcafe is the only permanently accredited FIA Formula 1 media outlet in Australasia, with journalists on the ground at all events on the calendar.

With agencies in Australia, the UK and the USA, in 2024 Speedcafe will launch in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region where the sport continues to grow from strength to strength.

First, Fast & Free

Speedcafe continues to grow globally as a free news source reaching a new generation of fans.

Speedcafe has experienced significant growth in both traffic and page views year-on-year. With its engaging content, comprehensive coverage of motorsport, and user-friendly interface, the website has attracted a growing number of fans and enthusiasts.

Its timely news updates, in-depth analysis, and interactive features have made it a go-to destination for fans seeking the latest information and thrilling race highlights. With no other dedicated news site for motorsport in the Middle East, Speedcafe guarantees an audience unlike anything in the region.

Monthly stats (2023) STORIES PUBLISHED // 698 UNIQUE VISTORS // 3.7M PAGEVIEWS // 4.5M NEW USERS // 535,000 RETURNING // 706,000

Our mission Our mission at Speedcafe is to deliver timely, accurate, and captivating motorsport news and content to passionate enthusiasts worldwide.

Through our comprehensive coverage, engaging storytelling and community-driven approach, we aim to be the premier destination that fuels passion and connects the global motorsport community and its corporate partners.

MEET THE TEAM

Damien Reid

General Manager, Speedcafe Middle East Damien Reid is an experienced automotive and motorsport journalist working in print, radio, TV and online, with decades in public relations and media relations across Australia and the Middle East.

For the past five years, Damien has been the English language voice of Formula 1 as the lead TV commentator for MBC Action and the Saudi Sports Company SSC2 channels which hold the official TV rights to F1 across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to an audience of 20million+ viewers in 24 countries per race.

He also hosts one of Dubai’s most popular talk-back radio shows, “Motor Mania with Damien Reid” on Dubai Eye 103.8FM on Saturday mornings and has been a full-time freelance print journalist for most of the UAE’s top magazines and broadsheet newspapers as a motoring/motorsport specialist since 2011.

Damien moved to Dubai in 2005 at the request of Haymarket Publishing to establish their premium auto titles, Autocar and F1 Racing magazines which he managed as Group Managing Editor for seven years.

Prior to moving to Dubai, Damien was a successful freelance journalist based in Sydney, Australia, writing for Wheels and Motor magazines as well as being an on-air presenter and auto expert for Channel 9 programs; A Current Affair, Today and Mornings With Kerri-Anne Kennerly. He was also an occasional pit lane reporter and commentator with Nathan Prendergast for the AVE-produced motorsport weekly show, Speedweek on SBS TV. Damien began his career as a cadet journalist at News Ltd in Sydney, specialising in motoring and motorsports for The Daily Mirror and The Australian newspapers under the guidance of veteran motoring journalist, Mike Kable from 1988 to 1995. His first assignment as a cub reporter was covering the 1988 Tooheys 1000 at Bathurst.

MEET THE TEAM

Mirza Hatk Arabic Editor

Mirza Hatk is a renowned Jordanian automotive journalist, writer and content creator with extensive experience in magazines, websites and social media, as well as PR, content creation and client relations.

Most recently he was Head of Editorial & Strategy for the Motorsport Network’s Arabic publishers, Triangle Media House based in Dubai. During this time, he was responsible for the Arabic editorial content as the Launch Editor for Motorsport.com and Mobil1.com as well as business development, working closely with new clients to create marketing campaigns and social media strategies.

Mirza managed a team of writers, designers and content creators in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan while attracting clients including the SAMF (Saudi Automobile & Motorsport Federation), Pirelli Middle East, McLaren Dubai, Maserati Middle East, Toyota Jordan and Hyundai MENA as partners.

Mustafa Fakhri Special Columnist

A motoring journalist and TV producer for more than 20 years, Mostafa started his career at Automobile Magazine Middle East in 2001 and became its Editor-in-Chief in 2019. Mostafa also established Auto Network Middle East with his brother and fellow automotive journalist Karim as a motoring digital platform.

Mostafa was the producer of the Automobile show on Future TV, a weekly magazine show which specialised in automotive news, reviews and motorsport. This led to a motorsport commentary role on Al Jazeera Sports for the 2013 seasons of MotoGP, Superbike World Championship and MXGP. Since 2021, Mostafa has been based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as Head of Motorsport Content at the Saudi Sports Company (SSC) which holds the Formula 1 World Championship TV rights for the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region.

MEET THE TEAM

Brett “Crusher” Murray Director, Speedcafe Global

Brett “Crusher” Murray is regarded as one of the world’s most respected media, management and event experts. With 40 years of international experience, Brett has driven the development of the Speedcafe brand into the world’s #1 independently owned motorsport news website.

Starting his media career in Australia at just 16 years of age, Brett has an unmatched passion for every element of his broad portfolio which includes some of the world’s leading brands and biggest events including entering his own team in the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500, which produced a world-record one-day sporting crowd close to 450,000 fans.

A respected journalist, author, public speaker, and business advisor, Brett remains a confidant to leaders and celebrities in world sport, business and entertainment. Now a resident of the UAE, the expat has a passion for playing a role in the success of local and international brands.

Filippa Guarna Client Manager

Filippa Guarna is a respected 25-year motorsport media specialist spanning radio, journalism, television, digital media, communications, event operations and coaching.

Well known as a results-driven global television and communications director, Filippa was the first ever digital media manager in Australian Supercars history before becoming a resident of the UAE in 2014, creating an extensive portfolio with local MENA agencies, automotive and motorsport organisations.

Filippa’s global credits include Formula 4 UAE as Head of Media and Communications for the first six seasons, Media Delegate for the Gulf 12 Hours, content producer for Motoring Middle East, plus adjunct teacher of audio and video studies for Murdoch University Dubai. Filippa is also General Manager of BAM Arabia.

Our promise Speedcafe Middle East will provide the most comprehensive coverage of all forms of motorsport across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region with a dedicated bi-lingual site in Arabic and English.

Its staff are the region’s most knowledgeable and authoritative motorsport journalists and contributors who, combined, have more than five decades of experience writing, talking about and promoting motorsport in the Middle East.

Together, this provides attractive, bespoke and rewarding programs for our valued corporate partners.

TESTIMONY

Garry Connelly AM

FIA World Motor Sport Council member; Permanent Chair F1 Stewards; Former Deputy President, FIA institute; Former Director, Global Institute for Motor Sport Safety, Chair and Director Australian Institute of Motor Sport Safety.

"I have seen Speedcafe.com develop into the leading independent motorsport news site in the world.

"Speedcafe quickly gained a respected position in the industry more than 14 years ago and has ingrained itself in the Australian and international motorsport communities through passion, accuracy and integrity.

"I have worked closely with Speedcafe.com founder Brett 'Crusher’ Murray on a number of projects for almost 30 years and his personal, hands-on involvement with the expansion into the Middle East, provides me with confidence that it will make a positive impact in a short period of time.

"I believe a local-version of Speedcafe will be an enormous asset for the Middle East where our sport continues to go from strength to strength."

TESTIMONY

Scott McLaughlin Three-time Australian Supercars Champion & current INDYCAR driver for Team Penske

"Speedcafe.com is a go-to point for global motorsport news and has been my daily source of information for more than a decade, but even more so since my move from Australia to the US three years ago.

"I have been aware of Speedcafe's plans for global expansion with regionalspecific hubs and it’s great news that the Middle East has taken pole position for the next part of that growth.

"I have fond memories of racing Supercars in the Middle East. A region that has passionate fans and administrators and that has always projected enormous potential, which I am sure Speedcafe.com will help enhance.

"I believe I will be just one of thousands of industry members and fans around the world who will enjoy watching the growth of motorsport in the Middle East through Speedcafe.com's new dedicated site. I look forward to racing there again in the future."

TESTIMONY

Ed Jones

Successful US-based UAE-born INDYCAR and sports car driver

“I regularly check in on Speedcafe.com to know what’s going on in the motorsport world as my go-to place for daily content across all sorts of motor racing, so it’s great to see that it is opening up in the Middle East, where I grew up and began my racing career.

“Under the leadership of Dubai-based motorsport journalist Damien Reid, whom I’ve known since I began karting in the UAE many years ago, I think a regional Speedcafe platform will be of great benefit to competitors and sponsors in the Middle East as Damien has supported my career from those early days up to now through his newspaper columns, magazine features and on his radio shows on Dubai Eye. “Speedcafe founder Brett Murray knows how to make projects work having seen firsthand when he entered his own team in the Indy 500 in 2016 while I was racing in Indy Lights. He has been a regular supporter at the Brickyard during my time racing in the Indy 500 for Dale Coyne Racing and Chip Ganassi in 2017 and 2019 and again in 2021.

“I am sure Speedcafe Middle East will be a ‘must-read’ for anyone involved in motorsport in the Middle East.”

Our service While Speedcafe Middle East will focus on providing the most comprehensive coverage of motorsport across the Middle East, our creative team also provides a wide range of brand and content services to further compliment corporate partners wanting to leverage their involvement in the sport and our global footprint.

Our focus

Speedcafe is committed to providing unwavering coverage of all motorsport disciplines across the MENA region.

From circuit racing, off-road competition, international events and local national series, Speedcafe will be on the pulse of motorsport news across the Middle East daily. This also includes reporting on racers from the region who are competing internationally. Some examples of the many and varied categories and disciplines we will cover include:

Circuit Racing

• • • • • •

Formula 1 and extended coverage of GPs in UAE, Bahrain, KSA and Qatar F2, F3, F4 and Formula Regional Asian Le Mans Series Dubai 24 Hours Gulf 12 Hours Formula E

Off-Road Racing

• • • • • • •

Dakar Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Dubai International Baja Abu Dhabi Baja Series Dubai Endurocross Championship Extreme E Saudi Arabia Middle East Rally Championship

National Events

• • • • • • •

Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East Gulf Historic Dubai GP YAS Racing Series NGK Race Weekend Gulf ProCar Series Gulf Radical Cup UAE Time Attack & SuperStreet

Other Key Events

• • • • • • •

Mille Miglia Experience UAE Rotax Max Challenge IAME Series Dubai Kartdrome O Plate Emirates Drift Championship E-Sport Championships FIA Motorsport Games

Video Production Speedcafe’s in-house production team produces a wide range of long and short form video content to support key new stories. We output high quality content quickly and efficiently across Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

Photography We have in-house photographers attending all major motorsport events in the MENA region which gives our partners access to high quality imagery in a timely manner.

Social Content Speedcafe platforms continue to show rapid growth and our social media team produces high quality, consistent content which has enormous reach. Creating content for our platinum partners includes brand management, graphic design, imagery and viral video content production that is created at international standards of professionalism.

Documentaries Our specialist production team is also renowned for its quality long-form documentaries and feature programs that cover international motorsport events in-depth.

Platinum partnerships Not only is Speedcafe the region’s #1 motorsport news hub, it provides corporate entities with an unrivalled advertising platform that offers enduring commercial benefits, ensuring consistent brand visibility, extended reach and increased brand recall to our millions of unique visitors every month.

These bespoke partnerships provide a lasting impression, establish brand authority and generate ongoing leads, driving long-term customer engagement and loyalty. By securing a Platinum Partnership, you can maximise exposure and achieve sustained marketing impact for your brand.

Platinum partnership core package: ● Logo listed as a Speedcafe ‘Platinum Partner’ on the sidebar and Partners page ● Permanent MREC on the homepage and all Speedcafe news pages ● Permanent leaderboard on the homepage and all news pages ● Two weeks of homepage ownership space on both desktop and mobile ● Participation in the yearly global Speedcafe Motorsport Survey including data ● Logo on Speedcafe marketing materials, both print and digital ● Presenting partner of the daily newsletter ● 2 x Solus EDMs per annum

Our brands

The Speedcafe.com network hosts a wide range of industry leading brands globally, including motoring lifestyle website torquecafe, multiple award-winning podcasts, plus networking services with like-minded motorsport enthusiasts and businesses alike.

torquecafe is a motoring lifestyle media outlet that provides an insight into new high-end performance vehicles, performance aftermarket products and news relating directly to the motoring industry. It is the link between the racetrack and the road and engages audiences in all areas of performance, design, technology and serious fun.

Our partners

Speedcafe has long standing commercial partnerships with the best brands in the industry.

Many of our Partners see an involvement with Speedcafe.com as a perfect complement to their existing spends in the industry and the ideal way to leverage that involvement.

Other Partners see Speedcafe as a cost-effective and independent way to reach an important, growing and loyal audience.

Whether you are looking to increase brand awareness, gather usable data, increase foot traffic, develop digital or social platforms, leverage other spends or strategically lockout the opposition, Speedcafe.com can deliver.

Speedcafe works with each partner to develop customised programs to suit both budget and objectives

Get on board Speedcafe Platinum Partnerships are customised based on your brand’s objectives and budgets. The Speedcafe team will work with you at every step of activating the partnership to provide above and beyond results.

Monthly reports are provided to each Partner with regular reviews and communication throughout the program.

What happens next?

• Speedcafe will work with you on a customised partnership plan • A Partnership Agreement document is reviewed and executed • Your Speedcafe client manager welcomes you to the Speedcafe family • Speedcafe prepares a media release for approval • Partnership activated on Speedcafe New Platinum Partnerships can be put together and activated within 48 hours.

Contact us today to discuss how we can help your brand grow it’s value across the Middle East and beyond.

Damien Reid General Manager E: reidautomedia@gmail.com P: +971 50 397 4415

Brett Murray Director, Speedcafe Global E: brett@bammedia.com.au P: +61 418 760 066

PO Box 72280 Dubai Media City United Arab Emirates

The world’s #1 independent motorsport news website.

Launching in the Middle East in 2024.