Mohammed Al Mutawaa to represent the UAE on Al Khobar corniche

Under the patronage of HRH Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, governor of KSA’s Eastern Province, sixteen of the best Arab drivers are making their final preparations for Red Bull Ras B Ras.

With the sponsorship of Chevrolet and ActionHa, this knockout racing competition is set to take place today on the  Al-Khobar Corniche. Thousands of spectators will cheer the all-star lineup as they go head to head in thrilling, action-packed battles, and watch as one is crowned the ultimate champion.

Hours before the event, tensions are running high as contenders eagerly await the moment of truth - when they will be called upon to demonstrate their driving skills on board three car makes (Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 9, Radical SR3 and KTM). The three-car categories enjoy similar technical specifications and are each capable of earning the drivers the top podium spot. Nevertheless, the competition will certainly be tight as some of the biggest names in the Arab motoring world vie for the Red Bull Ras B Ras title.

Red Bull Ras B Ras is set to promote motoring not only in the KSA, but across the entire Middle East. The event was especially conceived with the Middle East in mind and caters to the significant base of motorsport enthusiasts in the region. Sixteen auto racing champions will aim to rise to the challenge and demonstrate their best driving and racing skills during the one-day event. Red Bull Ras B Ras is the ultimate showdown in Middle East motoring and will crown the undisputed Arab champion.

Knockout elimination starts early on, in the first rounds of the standoffs, pitting the contenders against each other across eight separate groups. The fastest eight drivers will then qualify to the quarterfinals where racers will rival, across four groups, for a spot in the semifinals. Pressure will mount to make it to the final rounds, where only two drivers will face-off against each other in aims to win the title. Subsequently, only one driver will stake his claim as the ultimate champion in a competition that features some of the best and brightest Arab stars of the motoring world.

Mohammed Al-Mutawaa - UAE's rising Emirati star

Born on 2nd December, 1992, Emirati national Mohammed Al-Mutawaa began his motorsport career in late 2007. The 171cm-68kg driver was selected from 700 UAE drivers to represent his country in Europe.

As one of the winners of the UAE Motorsport Star program, Al-Mutawaa was invited to the selection stage to secure a place in the FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy—the world’s most prestigious driver training program.

Al-Mutawaa, a competitor in the Formula Gulf 1000 championship, attended a selection event in Melk, Austria. He was also nominated to the FIA Institute by the Automobile Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) after he was identified through the UAE Motorsport Star program as the country’s most promising young driver. He will be one of thirty contenders vying for eighteen spots in the academy, three of which are guaranteed for drivers from MENA.

Al-Mutawaa was selected along with UAE karting champ Mohammed Al-Dhaheri from a shortlist of five candidates by ATCUAE through the UAE Motorsport Star program, given his outstanding results across a range of physiological, psychological and media tests. The young driver was subsequently sent to the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland for intensive training with a team of sports science experts in a bid to give him an edge over his competitors in Austria.

Voicing his excitement over his nomination, Al-Mutawaa said; “This will hopefully take my career to the next level. The training and exposure by the Academy are extremely important, and I would like to thank the ATCUAE and the FIA Institute for giving me this opportunity.”

Al-Mutawaa began training at the HSBC Racing Academy over 2007-2008 season, entering the single-seater Formula Renault 1.6L championship and the karting 1255cc Rotax race in 2008. He participated in the Renault Clio Cup during the 2009-2010 season and raced in the GTB class of the UAE GT Championship behind the wheel of a Corvette Z06.

Al-Mutawaa’s best showing was at the Formula Renault 1.6L, claiming ninth out of a total of twenty-four slots and finishing twelfth overall in the championship, which features various circuits across Europe including Pau, Magny-Cours, Spa-Francorchamps, Brno and Le Mans.

Al-Mutawaa has also made a name for himself in the very exclusive karting community, particularly the 125cc Rotax Senior MAX held at the Dubai Kartdrome and Al-Ain Raceway. He claimed third position in both the Rotax Max Challenge (RMC) and the Dubai Autodrome Motorsport Club (DAMC) Championship in 2008-2009. Al-Mutawaa secured seven podium finishes out of eleven races and was crowned Rookie of the Year.

Having successfully established himself in the world of karting, Al-Mutawaa went on to the RX5 Sodi World Series (SWS) at the Dubai Autodrome where he topped the standings in a twelve-hour race in 2011. He also claimed three successive runner-up positions in the twenty-four-hour race in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Al-Mutawaa’s stellar track record also boasts five wins in the 2010 SWS Sprint Racing.

Al-Mutawaa’s many achievements at Al-Ain Raceway include earning the title in a three-hour long karting race in 2009 and claiming third place in the Super Prix Challenge. In a bid to acquire further experience, Al-Mutawaa took part in the karting competition held on the street circuit of Ischgl, Austria where he secured the fourth spot.

The 2009-2010 season saw Al-Mutawaa behind the wheel of a Renault Clio for the UAE Touring Car Championship at the Dubai Autodrome and Al-Ain Raceway, where he came in second in his best showing—earning him the fifth position in the overall championship standings for that year.

The 2010-2011 season was Al-Mutawaa's most impressive, having competed in the UAE GT Championship on board a Corvette Z06 GT3. He was able to secure six wins across the eight races at Dubai Autodrome and Yas Marina Circuit to land in the runner-up spot in the overall championship standings.