OREANDA-NEWS. Kaspersky Lab announces a new partnership agreement with Abu Dhabi Racing which is intended to create more opportunities for young Emiratis as professional rally and racing drivers in the world of motorsport. This partnership will help fund the growing competitive programme being undertaken by Abu Dhabi Racing, which has been working on a number of initiatives to bolster the emirate's presence in global motorsport since it was established a year ago.

Within the new partnership the familiar Kaspersky Lab branding, which has appeared on Ferrari's F1 cars for three consecutive seasons, will be carried by Abu Dhabi Racing during competitive events in the 2014 FIA Middle East Rally Championship and at some of the world's top circuit races.

“We are very pleased to have formed a working partnership with Kaspersky Lab. We are aligning ourselves with a company which already delivers IT security for many world-renowned brands, and we look forward to developing a fruitful relationship which will bring great success for both partners,” said Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Racing. “Since we launched at the end of last year, we have been working to secure additional strategic partnerships to promote Abu Dhabi as a destination, and provide the next crop of UAE National motorsport drivers with a real chance to compete professionally. This is another important step towards achieving our objectives.”

Khalid Abu Baker, Managing Director, Kaspersky Lab Middle East commented: “Having solid experience in motorsport sponsorship, Kaspersky Lab is eager to apply its expertise in partnership with Abu Dhabi Racing. We are sure that Emirati drivers have the potential and ambition to succeed at an international level. We hope that this agreement is the start of a mutually fruitful relationship between Abu Dhabi Racing and Kaspersky Lab.”

The partnership with Abu Dhabi Racing also sees Kaspersky Lab supporting the race program of Khaled Al Qubaisi, who in June became the first Emirati driver to compete in the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, and also contested this year's renowned Nurburgring 24 Hours in Germany.

Abu Dhabi Racing is an Abu Dhabi-based company working on a number of initiatives designed to bolster the emirate's presence in global motorsport. Abu Dhabi Racing has agreed a five-year partnership with multiple World Rally Championship-winning manufacturers, Citroen, to create the new Citroen Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team and Abu Dhabi Citroen Total World Rally Team, both competing in the 2013 WRC season. In addition, a five-car Abu Dhabi Racing team headed by Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi is contesting the 2013 FIA Middle East Rally Championship. Via strategic relationships with Abu Dhabi-based motorsport stakeholders - including Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management, Yas Marina Circuit and Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority - the primary objective for Abu Dhabi Racing is to increase Emirati participation in various global motorsport series, including off-road and circuit-based disciplines. Abu Dhabi Racing is also pursuing local, regional and international sponsorship deals to assist the delivery of its multi-pillared vision and objectives.

Kaspersky Lab is the world's largest privately held vendor of endpoint protection solutions. The company is ranked among the world's top four vendors of security solutions for endpoint users*. Throughout its more than 16-year history Kaspersky Lab has remained an innovator in IT security and provides effective digital security solutions for large enterprises, SMBs and consumers. Kaspersky Lab, with its holding company registered in the United Kingdom, currently operates in almost 200 countries and territories across the globe, providing protection for over 300 million users worldwide.