ABU DHABI - 27 November, 2013 - Since the arrival of the first UIM F1 H2O World Championship drivers from the Gulf States back in the mid-1990's the names of Emirati talents have spread across the map of the sport.
However, a new name from a new country in the region, is starting to show he may be a driver of the future in one Youssef Al-Rubayan who drives for the second full season with Portuguese pilot Duarte Benavente on the suddenly serious looking F1 GC Atlantic Team based out of Lisbon.
Youssef, who arrived on the scene exactly two years ago this weekend at the Grand Prix Of Abu Dhabi, had cut his teeth like many drivers from the Middle East region of the world on Jet Ski's. He soon became a champion not only in his country of Kuwait but also the champion in the United Arab Emirates as well.
"I was so excited to prove that I was talented not only at home but by racing around the Gulf, show that I could be a special rider in more than one country and prove I could win at any level," said Youssef.
The likeable driver from Holi, Kuwait moved up to powerboat racing not afraid to choose the ultra-competitive competition in F2 racing and running in the "President Cup" races. From there, it was on to the international F2 series where he traveled all around Europe the Far East as well as the Middle East.
Al-Rubayan became quickly known as a fast and competitive "Match" racer winning many one-on-one side-by-side events that pitted fellow drivers in a drag racing event to see whom was fastest on water.
Youssef soon became known as "the best" and was called "Speed Freak" after winning the Speed championship in the series for the past few years before joining F1 full time.
"I loved the match racing and the speed of the events," said Youssef. "It would be fun to do the same more often on an F1 weekend as we have a really successful event in Kyiv every year at mid-summer. It's an added challenge all drivers enjoy, but it does have a tendency to wear out your equipment as well. That's why we don't it so often."
After finishing tied for 10th place in his first full season a year ago earning 11 points in the process, Youssef this season has done even better. After four events in 2013 Al-Rubayan is seventh with 21 points just one point behind well known 13-year veteran Thani Al Qamzi of Team Abu Dhabi.
Al Qamzi, winner of seven events in his 106 official F1 H2O starts, was runner up in the championship in 2009 and is someone Youssef see's himself looking up too.
"Thani is great and Ahmed Al Hameli, Thani's teammate has been very courageous in his fight with cancer this past year. Both are drivers I look up to."
Now, with a ninth in Brazil; eighth in Kiev; seventh in China following this, his first ever podium with a third place finish last week in Doha at the Grand Prix of Qatar other hopeful drivers of the Middle East and around the world can look up to Youssef for what he does for the sport.
"With my first podium, it's like I shot of pure adrenalin and want more and more results like this. I started back and came charging forward and love putting my best foot forward in trying to find the formula for success and now want more success."
Youssef, who missed out the celebration on his very first podium, receiving word late in the day that he moved up a spot from fourth because of a disqualified driver, now wants to be a part of the podium action the next time he does earn the number designation after a Grand Prix.
It could be coming sooner than later!
You can watch Youssef and the other 18 drivers from 14 countries battle for pole position when they take to the water for official qualifying on the corniche along the bay starting at 15:30 local, 11:30 GMT and 06:30 Eastern Standard Time on the East Coast of North America.
All the action of the three qualifying sessions can be watched in its entirety by going to the official website of the series at www.f1h2o.com to receive the live worldwide television broadcast on your computer. The 22nd race for the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi takes place on Friday at the same time along the corniche.
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