Dubai-raised Al Azhari reflects on driving roots ahead of UK stint
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)At just 17 years old, Dubai's Keanu Al Azhari has taken a significant leap in his motorsport career – one that could put him on the path to Formula One.The rising UAE driver has joined the Alpine Academy, the junior development programme in England, and is set to compete in the GB3 Championship with the Silverstone-based Hitech GP this season.The move marks a turning point for Al Azhari, who has long been seen as one of the UAE's brightest racing prospects. Having already made a name for himself in Formula 4 over two seasons, the teenager sees his latest step as both validation of his talent and a gateway to bigger things."Joining Alpine is a big milestone in my career and a reflection of all the hard work that I have put in," he said."I'm really proud to be part of the Alpine family, and they will help develop me during my junior single-seater career. Hopefully, this move will be another step towards reaching my career goal of reaching F1 one day, as that is my dream. It's going to be a tough few years, but I am ready to show everyone what I have now."And he is thankful to Dubai Autodrome, where his career roots have been entrenched. Motorsport runs in the family. Keanu's father, Karim Al Azhari, was a regular on the local racing scene, and Keanu was immersed in the world of racing from an early age at the Autodrome and even got his racing license from there."My first memories of going to the track were at a very young age, when I was three years old, watching my dad race," he recalled.His trajectory so far certainly supports that ambition. Last year, he secured four wins, nine podiums, and five pole positions, finishing runner-up in the Formula 4 Spanish Championship, while in the Formula 4 UAE Championship in the same year, he earned two wins, five podiums, and four pole positions to secure third place overall.Al Azhari is among a number of young drivers who have transitioned from karting to motorsport. That list includes UAE's Rashid Al Dhaheri, former Dubai Kartdrome O Plate champion, who recently joined Mercedes' Junior Driver Programme, Zack Scoular, competing in British GB3, Jamie Day, an ex-karting champion and part of the Aston Martin drivers' junior team in European Endurance GT3, Edward Jones, who finished third in Indy 500, and Federico Rifai, a multiple-karting champion and former Saudi F4 winner."He always had a passion for motorsport and the hunger to succeed in every race and it is wonderful to see that he still has that commitment," said Dubai Autodrome General Manager Faisal Al Sahlawi, who has seen Al Azhari come through the ranks."With plenty of years ahead of him, he possesses all the correct attributes to be an even better driver and become a future world motorsport champion. We hope many young drivers across the UAE can follow in his footsteps."
For now, Al Azhari's focus is firmly on GB3 and proving he belongs in the upper echelons of junior motorsport. With the backing of Alpine and a competitive seat at Hitech GP, he has the tools – and the drive – to take his dream all the way to Formula One.
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