Latest news with #QMA
Qatar Tribune
06-07-2025
- Automotive
- Qatar Tribune
Bader Al Sulaiti represents Qatar in Italian F4 at Monza
Tribune News Network Doha Bader Al Sulaiti, representing Qatar Motor Academy (QMA), took to one of motorsport's most iconic venues when he participated in the third round of the 2025Italian Formula 4 Championship at the legendary Autodromo Nazionale di Monza from June 19-22. Facing a highly competitive grid of 41 drivers, the young Qatari delivered a composed and consistent performance, successfully completing all three races over the weekend. Despite a challenging weekend, Bader showed solid racecraft and consistency, gaining valuable experience at one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar. Bader's participation marked another significant step in Qatar's growing presence in international motorsport. The Monza circuit, famously known as the 'Temple of Speed,' provided the dramatic backdrop for the third round of the 2025 Italian Formula 4 Championship. The venue's rich history and high-speed layout presented both challenges and opportunities for Sulaiti to showcase his developing skills against a competitive field of 41 drivers from around the world. The Italian Formula 4 Championship, now in its 12th edition, remains the longest-running Formula 4 championship and serves as a crucial proving ground for aspiring motorsport talent. Formula 4 represents a pivotal stepping stone in motorsport's ladder system, launched in 2014 by the FIA as an entry-level, cost-controlled single-seater racing category. These cars reach top speeds of 210-240 km/h while generating lateral G-forces of 1.5 to 2.0 G, making it an ideal development platform for drivers transitioning from karting toward Formula 1 aspirations. Sulaiti's participation continues Qatar's strategic investment in developing motorsport talent through QMA, an initiative representing the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation's commitment to discovering and nurturing the next generation of Qatari racing talent. The academy welcomes participants aged 15 to 25 regardless of previous motorsport experience, aligning with Qatar National Vision 2030. Bader's presence at Monza represents both personal ambition and Qatar's commitment to building a strong foundation in international motorsport competition. His participation demonstrates the effectiveness of QMA's development pathway, showcasing how the academy's systematic approach can produce drivers capable of competing on the international stage. As Qatar continues to establish itself as a major force in international motorsport, drivers like Bader Al Sulaiti represent the next generation of Qatari talent ready to compete not just as participants, but as potential champions. The experience gained at prestigious venues like Monza against world-class competition provides invaluable learning opportunities that will serve these drivers well as they progress through motorsport's competitive hierarchy.
Hindustan Times
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Surprise inspection exposes poor workmanship on Khar Road; BMC slaps ₹75L fine
MUMBAI: Despite spending thousands of crores to concretise Mumbai's roads and ensure they remain pothole-free for 25 years, a major lapse on 34th Road in Khar West has exposed glaring quality control failures across all three levels of oversight. In a surprise inspection on April 7, additional municipal commissioner Abhijit Bangar discovered that the dry lean concrete (DLC) base—meant to provide a strong foundation—was so poorly executed it could be crumbled by hand. The contractor initially claimed the concrete had been cured for the mandatory seven days, but later backtracked in response to a show-cause notice, admitting it had only been cured for three. 'This kind of softness should never be possible in cured concrete,' said Bangar. 'It indicated serious flaws in compaction and material quality.' Other violations included the use of coarse aggregates of 60mm instead of the required 20mm, and uneven surfaces far beyond the permissible 2–5mm range. Critically, the mandatory Field Dry Density (FDD) test—which checks for proper compaction—had not been done, compromising the road's strength and lifespan. Following an internal inquiry, the BMC fined the road contractor ₹50 lakh, penalised the quality monitoring agency (QMA) ₹25 lakh, and suspended the ward's sub-engineer. An assistant engineer received an official warning. 'Neither the contractor ensured quality, nor did the QMA catch these issues. Even the ward staff on-site missed them,' Bangar said. 'This was not malafide, but a result of ignorance and a casual attitude.' Had the issue not been caught in time, the top layer—pavement quality concrete (PQC)—would have been laid over the faulty base, leading to premature deterioration. The contractor has now been asked to redo the stretch entirely. Bangar emphasised that heavy penalties for even small stretches are intended to send a strong deterrent message. 'We can't inspect every road, but we can make examples out of the ones we catch,' he said. The BMC is racing to meet a May 31 deadline for 400 km of road concretisation. Of the 700 roads taken up in Phase 1, 260 have been completed. In Phase 2, work has begun on 1,421 roads, with 56 done so far.
