ABU DHABI // They accelerate faster than a rocket lifting off from Cape Canaveral, are louder than an F16 fighter jet departing its launch pad and are more powerful than the first four rows of a Formula One grid. And this weekend spectators can stand within touching distance of them.
Following the success of last year's sold-out Yas Drag Racing Festival, the two day event returns and will see Rod Fuller, Yas Marina Circuit's resident dragster, compete against FIA Top Fuel world champion Urs Erbacher in 8,000-horsepower machines that can go from zero to 480kph in less than four seconds.
"Top Fuel cars offer the fastest acceleration in the world," Fuller said. "But the reason why this event is so different to any other motorsport meeting is that the pit areas are entirely open and accessible. It's like giving fans access to an ER [emergency] room full of doctors, but instead it is 12 technicians working on car engines."
Fullerdrove at the inaugural event in 2010, which attracted 5,000 spectators and was voted "Motorsport Event of the Year" by Car Middle East - ahead of the Bahrain and Abu Dhabi Formula One grands prix. This time around though, he says he is "a wreck" with nerves.
"Last year there were no expectations and I just drove, but this year everyone is expecting success and not only am I driving, but I am helping to run the drag strip too alongside Rashed al Qubaisi," Fuller said. "I've had a lot of sleepless nights, believe me. But I am excited."
Top Fuel drag racing remains a very new spectacle in this region, but Fuller - from Las Vegas in the United States - expects it to grow and says it can become as popular here as it is in his home country.
"It is a very, very popular sport in America. We get 100,000 spectators to races. It's as popular back home as Formula One is here," said Fuller, who moved to the UAE last year.
"It's funny because Emiratis and Americans are actually very similar in a way: we like speed, cars and action and Top Fuel cars certainly offer all three.
"People like explosions and fire and crazy stuff and that's what we provide.
"I always tell people that Top Fuel [races] attack all the senses: you smell the race fuels, see the flames, feel it, hear it, you can get in and touch them. It's just awesome."Fuller said all the nerves will disappear as soon as he takes his seat behind the wheel.
"Yas has the best drag strip in the world, but once you get in the car on the racetrack, you can forget you are in the UAE," he said.
"We are racing in the exact same conditions as we would if we were in Las Vegas, so it's pretty cool. It's like a little taste of home."
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
News coverage, page a6
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Third Test
Day 3, stumps
India 443-7 (d) & 54-5 (27 ov)
Australia 151
India lead by 346 runs with 5 wickets remaining
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
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