Economy Middle East was one of the lucky few representatives to attend the 1000 Miglia Experience UAE Prologue race earlier this year. During the event in Febuary, Classic car enthusiasts got a taste of all that was to come thanks to organizers Octanium Experiences and their key partners across private and public sectors.
The inaugural event, which is sure to be an annual occurrence on the UAE calendar is to be held between December 4th and December 8th of this year. The event is set to be much grander, covering 1,600 km across the seven emirates and a whopping 100 teams of which 50 are joining from overseas. The 1000 Miglia Experience UAE will be the largest classic car regularity rally ever held in the GCC.
The order of affairs will commence with a showcase of the participating cars on the 4th of December in Dubai’s stylish Downtown district. While competitors will receive practical training and technical scrutineering, top influential car clubs and communities will also be in attendance for the crowds to enjoy.
The grueling course
The checkered flag will see one hundred teams start the regularity rally from Dubai for a demanding 1,600 km road course across all seven emirates on December 5th. Competitors will head to the coast of Fujairah, then towards the rocky expanse of Ras Al Khaimah, where the mechanical abilities and upkeep of the vintage cars will be put to test. Next up is the mighty Jebel Jais road, with the steep uphill climb, that will certainly separate the well-looked after cars from the neglected.
After a good night’s rest at Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, the rally will continue down the western UAE shores passing through the often overlooked yet wonderfully exotic mangroves of Umm Al Quwain, and to the popular seaside of Ajman. The route will then follow onto Sharjah, where the color of the desert sand noticeably turns to red as members of the convoy will pass by the ancient archaeological sites, and back to Dubai for a second evening and special challenges, which are being kept quiet by the organizers.
On the final day, the convoy will depart for the capital Abu Dhabi towards the magnificent Emirates Palace hotel and a grand evening of celebrations.
The official partners of the 1000 Miglia Experience UAE will remain Chopard as the official timekeeper, ADNOC Distribution as the official fuel and lubricant supplier, and Carrera as the official eyewear partner. The UAE’s Ministry of Interior has stepped in as the main government partner, and Emirates Motorsport Organization, the UAE Government Media Office, and the Tourism Authorities of each individual Emirate will lend their full support to the historic event.
1000 Miglia CEO Alberto Piantoni said: “Being able to recount and promote the 1000 Miglia, the values that set it apart and its almost 100-year history, is a source of great pride for us: the Event scheduled for next December will be an important opportunity to bring the spirit of our Race to these territories that have welcomed us with enthusiasm and participation and offer an unforgettable experience to the Participants. On behalf of myself and the entire 1000 Miglia, a special thanks to all the Partners who have chosen to believe in this project.”
Octanium CEO Martin Halder said: “After having successfully concluded the 1000 Miglia Experience UAE Prologue in February with a fully-booked lineup of participants, we are full steam ahead to our next milestone – the 1000 Miglia Experience UAE in December. This landmark iconic event will be the culmination of our journey over the past year to bring the most beautiful race in the world to the UAE.”
“With 100 participating teams onboard and a distance of 1,600km, our participants will see this country as it truly should be seen – from behind the wheel of a stunning classic automobile. Members of the public can expect an unforgettable lineup of the finest classic cars from across the globe, many of which have never been seen before on the Arabian Peninsula. With the help of our honored partners including the UAE Ministry of Interior, Dubai Police, the Tourism Authorities, and our commercial associates, we expect the 1000 Miglia Experience UAE 2022 to be an enormous success.”
If the Prologue rally was anything to judge by, the grand event is destined for greatness. and we commend the organizers for showcasing the beautiful routes and drawing attention to the United Arab Emirates as a classic car destination. Watch this space to find out more about the 100 participating teams and cars.
