Every time Edy Saaiby lines up behind the wheel he banishes all fear and draws upon the lessons he has learned from studying his idol, Ayrton Senna.
Friday’s fourth round in the TRD 86 Cup in Abu Dhabi will be no different with Lebanese Saaiby on the grid with nothing but victory on his mind.
Senna remains the ultimate cult hero for aspirational racers, the Brazilian’s genius earning him three F1 titles before his tragic death in 1994.
Saaiby is counted among Senna’s army of fans and the 32-year-old admits to studying footage of his hero for tips and watching endless interviews to try and replicate his mental approach to racing.
#TRD86Cup is shaping up nicely. The race returns this 17-18 March. Are you ready? Book via: https://t.co/GuKovNG93I pic.twitter.com/avuhFdvA9O
— Yas Marina Circuit (@ymcofficial) March 15, 2016
“I remember watching him race on television when I was young and I liked the way he raced,” said Saaiby.
“I kept following him and could see how good he was. As I got older and when I began to take an interest in cars, I got to know Senna more by watching video clips on the internet and documentaries.
“I liked the way he raced and he always remained focused and he wasn’t afraid.
“The fact that he wasn’t afraid was the thing I liked about him the most and that’s why he’s my favourite role model in racing.
“Whenever I’m in the car in a race or in practice, I try to replicate him. I’ve learned that you cannot be afraid of anything in front of you.
“If you’re afraid, then you will not reach your full limit and then that’s where your concentration goes.
“At times it isn’t easy because there are so many obstacles in front of you but I try to remain in control of what I’m doing.”
Since moving to Dubai 10 years ago, Saaiby, who works as a sales director, has always had a strong interest in racing.
In the UAE, he competed in karting competitions, developing his knowledge and skills before signing up for the inaugural TRD 86 Cup in 2014.
A seventh-placed overall finish saw him return for the second edition in 2015-16.
Get in there! Azhari celebrates winning a thrilling first race #TRD86Cup pic.twitter.com/Bm9P9XPHka
— Yas Marina Circuit (@ymcofficial) March 11, 2016
“From karting to racing in the TRD 86 Cup was a big jump,” he said. “In karting, you only learn how to make your line on the circuit.
“In a Toyota, it’s quite difficult because it’s not just about the lines on the track, it’s about how you drive the car and how you move the car around the corner.”
While he continues to make strides, in the third round at Dubai Autodrome last Friday, Saaiby finished fifth and sixth in his two races as defending champion Karim Al Azhari and Ahmed Al Melaihi took the top honours.
“It’s quite a tough competition this time around because the drivers are much better and more experienced,” he said.
“I want to get as much practice as possible on the track in the car because working full-time and doing this as a hobby is quite difficult.
“I’m doing quite well and with three rounds to go there’s still time to show the other drivers how strong I can be.
“Driving at Yas Marina Circuit is a track I know well since the first two rounds were held there so hope to count that as an advantage.”
