IN the world of motorsport there is no shortage of bravery and courage. Every time a driver gets behind the wheel of a racing machine there is an element of risk involved. But for some drivers there is an additional challenge. People with special needs are faced with hurdles which their able-bodied counterparts do not even have to consider, let alone overcome. And yet there are participants with special needs in various motorsport disciplines who simply refuse to let disability stand in their way.
In recent years, despite the loss of both legs in a racing accident, Alex Zanardi returned to motorsport, successfully competing in touring cars before going on to have more success in the Paralympic sport of handcycling.
A different challenge, Cerebral Palsy, affects Nicolas Hamilton, half-brother of triple F1 champion Lewis, but in 2015 Nicolas became the first disabled driver to compete in the British Touring Car Championship.
Here in the Middle East we can add the name of Fahad Al Abdulattif to those on the list of courageous motorsport competitors who have resolutely refused to allow disability to thwart their dreams.
In the recent Ha’il International Rally, Fahad finished a highly creditable 7th in the T2 class in a Nissan Patrol, awarded by Prince Saud Bin Abdul Mohsen Bin Abdul Aziz, Governor of Hail, President of the Supreme Commission for Hail Development Authority, and the Head of the Supreme Commission of the Hail Rally, as well as being under the supervision of the FIA and Saudi Arabian Motor Federation (SAMF) and the General Authority for Tourism and National Heritage.
What makes this result special is that Fahad is deaf. This means he faces many additional layers of difficulty when competing against hearing competitors, even before he gets to the starting line of an event. For example, he and his co-driver have had to develop a system of hand signals to replace the verbally communicated pace notes normally used on rally stages. But his performance in the Hail Rally, in which he also took the Sportsmanship award for embodying the spirit of the rally, is by no means Fahad’s only success. In January 2015 he took first place in the T2 category in Umm Al Quwain rally in the UAE.
Fahad is the only deaf rally driver in the region, one of only three in the world and the first driver with special needs to compete in a rally in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This year, for the third year in a row Nissan is supporting Fahad as he pursues his dreams and demonstrates that disability need not be a barrier to success in a region where traditionally there have been relatively few sporting role models with special needs.
Cross country, or desert rallying is the predominant motorsport in the region in terms of local participation and it was therefore a natural choice for someone who has been passionate about motorsport from a very young age. Fahad is a naturally enthusiastic, friendly and personable young man who is a fine ambassador for his nation, his sponsors and the deaf community he feels proud to represent.
“For as long as I can remember I’ve been fascinated by motorsport and as a kid I loved reading about the exploits of some of the great rally drivers, hoping that one day I’d be able to emulate them,” he enthuses. “Through training, practice, hard work and taking on board the advice of experienced drivers and navigators, I have been able to translate this passion into the reality of competing on a level playing field with.”
“I’ve never really felt that my deafness was a barrier to getting into rallying as a competitor. On the contrary, I always have and always will be proud to represent the deaf and wider special needs community and I encourage other young people who love rallying, and especially those with special needs to follow their dreams with maximum determination!”
Fahad’s first rally was the Rally Jeddah 2015 when Nissan’s sponsorship began, an event in which he took seventh place in the T2 category and finished a highly creditable 13th overall. Since that time he has progressed to take consolidate his position as a driver who can compete at the same level as his peers despite his deafness.
“This year I participated in the Hail Rally and was also supported by Nissan along with the Deaf Club in Dammam. My biggest supporters are my family and my friends. They are the people who have helped me the most and have strengthened my resolve,” explained Fahad. “Rather than see me deafness as a limitation, by working with different navigators to develop a system of hand gestures, I have found that in some situations this use of visual cues can work to my advantage.”
While he has already accomplished a great deal there are plenty of goals to pursue and dreams to realize for the inspirational young Saudi driver.
“My plan is to participate in the Rally Dakar and other international rallies in the future,” said Fahad. “But I also want to be a pioneer and a source of inspiration for people with special needs who are interested in getting into the sport of rallying. I have always believed in pushing myself and if I can help others with special needs to develop the motivation to push themselves then that would give me tremendous satisfaction.”
It was Nissan KSA that spotted Fahad’s talents and were convinced that he should be given a chance. The decision to offer works support was based not on his special needs, but on his talent behind the wheel and his sheer tenacity in getting where he has despite the obvious obstacles.
“When we look at Fahad and what he has achieved with the help of our sponsorship over the past two years it seems very clear to us that he merits another year of Nissan support,” said Abdul Ilah Wazni, Marketing and Corporate Communications general Manager, Nissan Saudi Arabia. “His determination, resolve and fighting spirit are ample proof that he embodies much of the spirit that Nissan as a global corporation promotes in both its motorsport activities and in its quest to offer ‘Innovation that excites’.” — SG
