Improving road safety and shaping the new world race champions
This weekend for the first time in the Gulf region visitors will have the opportunity to compare their race skills against real professional race drivers. A select group of visitors of the FIA GT1 season opening at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi are given the opportunity to compete in a race simulator against Belgian FIA GT1 driver, Bas Leinders, in his Ford GT 40 of Marc VDS Racing.
The novel part is that the fortunate visitors can compare their skills and compete against Leinders racing in a simulator, where the Belgian FIA GT driver is driving in his real race car on a real circuit. This is made possible by a product called 'iOpener Enabled'. It is based on a patented technology using amongst others specially developed Satellite Navigation systems.
FIA GT1 drivers Leinders and Xavier Maassen; already have experience driving against virtual opponents. Leinders says: "Although I can't see the virtual drivers, the knowledge that thousands of people will try to beat you gives an exciting feeling". Maassen adds: "In Europe I have been involved in testing the iOpener Enabled product, and I have to say that this is a total new and great way of experiencing motorsports for the drivers as well as for the fans".
Group President & Founder of German based iOpener, Andy Lürling, explains; "By the end of this year people around the world will be able to race in real-time live against their race heroes while they are driving the real cars on the real circuits". He continues; "Fans can race online from behind their PCs at home, as well as in specialized simulators centres which are in development. With the iOpener Enabled product it is also possible to identify race talent, and educate this talent into future race champions."
Partner of iOpener is UAEs Gulf Horizon Group, chaired by H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Badi. Jointly the companies are working on finalizing the product and the market introduction. Gulf Horizon Group CEO, Charbel Deeb says: "For the Middle East & Gulf region, as well as for many emerging countries, we will introduce a road & safety awareness program to support governments, and related organizations with improving the road safety. We will reach the people based on circuit and rally racing, through both our online presence, as well as through our simulator centers."
Of course it would be very interesting to see this product at the new Yas Marina Circuit and other circuits in the region, resulting in safer roads and F1 and Rally World Champions coming from the Gulf Region in the near future.
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