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“Yes I guess I do have the best job in the world - on paper at least!” and it’s hard to argue with Michael Prophet, one of only a handful of professional racing drivers living here in Dubai. “I don’t think everyone admits to wanting to do what I do, but one trip down Sheikh Zayed Road scares the life out of me!” He has been here for a little over 3 years and is a test driver, senior instructor and team manager at Dubai Autodrome. He also heads up the Dubai Racing Academy, an initiative under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, to train an elite group of drivers to a level where they can forge a career in cars. “ Will we get an F1 champion from here? That’s the dream, and there is certainly talent out there, but we have to start them young to see the full potential. We need 5 year olds in go-carts and so the whole process takes a generation of dedication-like any sport”.
He’s a walking example of this, growing up around cars and getting his professional racing license before he was allowed to drive on the road, the sort of dedication that has seen him start over 300 races and appear on the grid at every single competitive track in the UK. Following a five year stint driving for Porsche, racing at Le Mans and all across Europe, he had his own team- ‘Team Prophet’ which gave him the chance to bring his son Anthony into the fold. He also now works at the Autodrome, and has a similarly illustrious career to fall back on.
“I remember my first race - it was at Spa in Belgium, I had gone along as pit crew and the co-driver was ill so I got the drive. It was a 24 hour endurance race with one of the most experienced guys on the circuit - I was just full of youthful exuberance!” So how did it finish? “ We came in third in our class” a combination of matter-of-fact and modesty prevails.
“No it doesn’t always go to plan and I have had my fair share of knocks. The worst one? I was testing a day or so before a race in Anglesey, North Wales, and as I came round a cambered bend with the car already leaning one way the front wheel came off. Not ideal.”
Again the matter of fact delivery masks the reality, as the car plowed into the surrounding turf and went from 150 kms per hour to zero in a matter of seconds. After a couple of summersaults it was left as a mangled wreck. “ … couple of bruses” is all he will admit to, and once again modesty prevails.
“ The facilities we have here are world class and once Abu Dhabi is completed it will be the same there.”
“At present the real buzz is around Speed Car - it’s derived from NASCAR in the states and the big investment has been to bring in some fabulous drivers. Johnny Herbert; Jean Alessi and the like are pulling the crowds in, but the whole point of the Autodrome is to able to encourage people here to get involved, to drive in a safe and controlled environment - and have some fun. Will it make them better drivers? It can’t make them any worse!”
If you would like more information about the facilities at Dubai Autodrome then feel free to drop Michael a line, and in the next week or two Crest of Dubai will be organizing some events there-so check back regularly!
