Sultan Khalifa crowned Champion of Season 2 of Toyota Gazoo Racing UAE Academy

Dubai, UAE; 30 September2024: The region’s first home-grown motorsports reality TV show – the Toyota Gazoo Racing UAE Academy – recently concluded the thrilling grand finale of its second season, crowning Sultan Khalifa as the champion. Established by Al-Futtaim Toyota, the Academy is the first of its kind in the Middle East, and reinforces Al-Futtaim Toyota’s commitment to promoting motorsport excellence in the region.

The Emirati racer triumphed over a distinguished group of finalists to win the competition. As the victor, he will serve as the 2024 Toyota Gazoo Racing UAE Ambassador, earning the prestigious opportunity to drive a high-performance Toyota GR Supra for a year and represent Al-Futtaim Toyota in competitivemotorsport activities across the UAE.

Following a highly successful inaugural season in 2023, the high-octane final round of the 2024 competition featured four exceptional finalists — three male drivers from the UK, Hong Kong, and UAE, and one female driver from Poland — competing in a series of rigorous challenges. 

The Season 2 finalists were selected from an initial pool of 32 participants, comprising 23 men and nine women from 16 nationalities, ranging in age from 18 to 57, who were chosen from over 1,500 applicants to the Auditions phase of the Academy.
Season 2 of the Toyota Gazoo Racing UAE Academy built on the success of its inaugural season, delivering an unforgettable experience filled with intense competition and racing thrills. This season marked a strategic shift from off-road challenges to on-track racing at Karting Town in Sharjah,adding a new dimension to the competition. Participants’ driving skills were tested in various formats, including kart racing, autocross, and time attack sessions,all in the powerful Toyota GR Supra.

The action-packed programme was spread across 4 stages: Auditions, Qualification, Development, and Finals. Each stage rigorously tested competitors on their physical endurance, driving skills, media finesse, and mental acuity, offering not just glory on the track but the potential to make a lasting impact on the motorsports landscape both in the UAE and globally.

As the 2024 Toyota Gazoo Racing UAE Ambassador, Khalifa will drive the Toyota GR Supra and represent the brand at various events and activities throughout the year.As a Season 1 finalist, his victory this season showcased his commitment and determination, and the Toyota Gazoo Racing UAEAcademy’s success in nurturing automotive talent.

Already a prominent figure in the esports and sim racing community, the 25-year-old Khalifa has thrice won the UAE SimRacing Champion title and was ranked the 27th fastest sim racer globally. He is also an active Twitch streamer under the handle sultankhalifaofficial, where he engages with his audience by streaming his sim-racing sessions and other gaming content. His journey with theToyota Gazoo Racing UAE Academy, along with the competition’s second season highlights, can be followed on Toyota UAE’s YouTube channel and other social media platforms.

Khalifa commented on his achievement, saying: “Winning the Toyota Gazoo Racing UAE Academy is a dream come true. The experience has been incredibly challenging and rewarding, pushing me to my limits and beyond. I am thrilled to be named the 2024 Toyota Gazoo Racing UAE Ambassador and am very excited to represent the brand on road and on the track.Being part of the Toyota Gazoo Racing family allows me to merge my love for virtual and real-world racing, creating new opportunities to connect with fellow enthusiasts and develop my own skills in motorsport.”

Jacques Brent, Managing Director of Al-Futtaim Toyota & Lexus, highlighted the significance of the Academy, commenting: “We are immensely proud of Sultan Khalifa and all the finalists who have demonstrated exceptional talent and dedication throughout this journey. The Toyota Gazoo Racing UAE Academy was established to uncover and nurture local racing talent and own the motorsport territory, and this second season has surpassed our expectations. Sultan’s victory underscores our commitment to fostering a vibrant motorsports culture in the UAE – bringing a fresh wave of excitement to a brand already renowned for its dependability, durability,and unmatched performance. We look forward to seeing Sultan excel as our Ambassador, embodying the spirit of Toyota Gazoo Racing and inspiring future generations of drivers.”

The Toyota Gazoo Racing UAE Academy continues to exemplify Toyota’s philosophy of pushing the limits to achieve greater performance and driving excellence. By investing in local talent and providing a platform for aspiring drivers, Al-Futtaim Toyota reaffirms its dedication to shaping the future of motorsport and fostering the next generation of sporting talent in the UAE.
All the high-octane action is available to view in the Toyota Gazoo Racing UAE Motorsport Academy 2024 Web Series on Toyota UAE’s YouTube Channel.