Wheels + Engine: Ian Will Be There

In his 11 years in the UAE Ian has been heavily involved in motorsport both on and off track. So here is a “quick” resume of Ian’s racing career (Warning: You will need a large cup of coffee or tea).

2008: Desert Lions Rally Team & Team Fast Forward

Desert Lions

Ian was the team manager and responsible for ensuring the driver & co-driver were at the briefings and the start on time for the teams entry in the UAE Desert Challenge.

Team Fast Forward

Co-founder of the team, team manager and navigator. Team entered the Umm Al Quwain desert rally and won the rookie class.

2009-10: Team Fast Forward, SVDP Racing, Dual Racing & Newtrix Racing

Team Fast Forward

UAE Desert Challenge. Team manager and navigator The car had been extensively modified since its last appearance with uprated suspension, new bigger engine and 300L fuel tank.

Sadly the event didn’t end well as the car caught fire on stage 2 and burnt out.

SVDP Racing

Chief Mechanic running a Honda Civic EP3 in the UAE Touring Car Championship. Responsible for event schedule compliance, setting and managing tyre pressures, fuel levels and fuel burn calculations and pit wall data communication.

The team decided to enter the Britcar 24hr race held at Silverstone. Ian helped assist in finding a suitable race car (BMW120d), completed the entry form, ordered the tyres and fuel, liaised with organisers, planned event and race strategy and ensured the team complied with the event rules and regulations. The team successfully completed the event.

Dual Racing

2010 saw Ian compete in in his 1^st 24hr car race at the Dubai 24hr event. Tasks included lap timing, preparing for pit stops, carrying out pit stops and fuel burn calculations. The team finished 2^nd in its class.

Newtrix Racing

Ian was asked by Newtrix Racing to be the teams navigator in their entry in the Hail Baja (3 days desert rally held in Saudi Arabia). The event is 1,600km from Dubai and it is a 2 day drive to get there (and 2 days back). The car blew a top radiator hose and the idler pulley disintegrated on day 2. Repairs were made with the team finishing the event the following day.

2010-11 SVDP Racing, Vendetta Racing and WRC Developments

SVDP Racing

Ian continued in running the Honda EP3 race car and carried out the same functions as the previous year.

Vendetta Racing

A race day wher there was no touring car racing but bike racing led to Ian commencing his working relationship with Vendetta Racing (Mahmoud Tannir & Alan Boyer) that is still going strong today (through both Vendetta Racing and Tannir Moto Racing. Ian’s influence was soon evident as he engineering Mahmouds first ever race victory at the last race day of the season. A sign of things to come.

WRC Developments

Ian joined the WRC Developments team from the UK to help run their Honda Integra DC5 (little did Ian know then that he would be running the same model of car again). Despite having to change the engine in the race (something Ian will get used to…), the team got the car to the chequered flag.

2011-12: SVDP Racing &, Vendetta Racing

Vendetta Racing

Crew Chief for Mahmoud Tannir who won 12 races out of 14 and finished 2^nd in the balance 2 races. This resulted in Mahmoud winning the UAE Sportsbike Championship.

SVDP Racing

Ian continued in running the Honda EP3 race car and carried out the same functions as the previous year. The main difference being that car was now white in colour.

After working with WRC Developments in the 2011 Dubai 24hr Race, Ian returned as Team Manager for SVDP Racing in their entry in the 2012 Dubai 24hr event. Responsible for team entry, ordering tyres, liaison with event organisers, planning and team organisation, lap timing and race strategy. Sadly, engine issues prevented the team from starting the race.

2012-13: Vendetta Racing, SVDP Racing, Erikas Savikas Racing & GNSS Racing

Vendetta Racing

Crew Chief for Mahmoud Tannir who won successfully defended his UAE Sportsbike Championship.

The team also competed in 1 round of the Qatar Supersport Championship where they won 1 race and finished 2^nd in another.

Erikas Savickas Racing

Ian acted as crew chief for Erikas Savickas at the last 2 rounds of the Qatar Superbike Championship. Despite suffering from front suspension issues, Erikas reduced his lap times over the 2 events and set a personal fastest lap in the last race.

SVDP Racing

Team Manager for SVDP Racing in their entry in the 2013 Dubai 24hr event. Responsible for team entry, ordering tyres, liaison with event organisers, planning and team organisation, lap timing and race strategy. The team won its category at the event with a certain Mr. Jonthan Mullan as one of the drivers.

 
SVDP Racing entered the Barcelona 24hr race later on in the year. Ian continued with his usual roll for the team and despite having to change the engine during the race, the team took the chequered flag.

GNSS Racing

At the inaugural 1hr endurance race at the Dubai Autodrome, Ian planned the strategy, monitored the lap times, called the pit stop all which led to Jonathan winning his class. The start of a long and fruitful relationship.

2013-14: Zettanet Racing, Tannir Moto Racing & Vendettta Racing

Sporting Director for Zettanet Racing. Responsible for tyre and fuel management and race strategy during the teams entry in the UAE Touring Car Championship. The team finished the season as the Class A2 champion.

Tannir Moto Racing

Crew Chief for Tannir Moto Racing. Responsible for suspension and tyre pressure settings, fuel management and pit wall data management in the teams entry in the UAE Superbike Championship where they finished 2nd. The team became the official Honda UAE racing team during the season.

Vendetta Racing

Team member for Vendetta Racings entry in the bike section of the UAE Desert Challenge. Ian was responsible for following the riders to the stage start and from the stage finish back to rally headquarters. Both riders completed all 5 days and finished the event.

2014-15: Zettanet Racing & Tannir Moto Racing

ZRT Motorsport

Sporting Director for ZRT Motosport. Responsible for team entry in the Dubai 24hr race, ordering tyres, liaison with event organisers, planning and team organisation, lap timing and race strategy.

Tannir Motor Racing

Crew Chief for Tannir Moto Racing. Responsible for suspension and tyre pressure settings, fuel management and pit wall data management. Mahmoud finished 2^nd in the UAE and Qatar Sportsbike championships.

2015-16: ZRT Motorsport & Tannir Moto Racing

ZRT Motorsport

Sporting Director for ZRT Motosport. Responsible for team entry in the Dubai 24hr race, ordering tyres, liaison with event organisers, planning and team organisation, lap timing and race strategy.

Tannir Moto Racing

Crew Chief for Tannir Moto Racing. Responsible for suspension and tyre pressure settings, fuel management and pit wall data management in the teams entry in the UAE Superbike & Qatar Supersport Championships.

2016-17 ZRT Motorsport, Tannir Moto Racing and ?

Ian will taking on the roll as Crew Chief for the Bahrain Superbike Championship where he will be responsible for 15 race spec Ducait Pannigali 899’s. He will continue his racing commitments with ZRT Motorsport and Tannir Moto Racing.

Oh and once in while Ian acts a riders stunt double….

All of the teams thank Ian’s ever supportive family for allowing him to contribute to the local racing community as much as he has.

Photo credits as per details on each picture.