ABU DHABI: Yas Heat Racing has unveiled its driver lineup with a mix of strong Emirati and UAE-based talent joining the development program for the new 2025-26 motorsport season.
Established under Yas Marina Circuit and dedicated to identifying, nurturing, and advancing racing talent from the UAE and beyond, Yas Heat bridges the gap between grassroots motorsport and professional racing.
A launch ceremony was held recently at Yas Marina Circuit to unveil Yas Heat Racing’s team lineup. The event was attended by top Yas Marina Circuit officials, partners and local media, with the team’s livery also revealed.
For the upcoming season, the UAE’s 15-year-old Zakaria “JZ” Doleh, Germany’s Adam Al-Azhari (16), Lebanon’s Charbel Abi Gebrael (16), and Edoardo Lacobucci (17) of Italy will represent Yas Heat Racing in the single-seater F4 Middle East Championship and Trophy UAE.
All of them are chasing their dream of testing themselves in the pinnacle of motorsport competitions.
Doleh has showcased his talent as a junior driver, finishing fifth in the UAE IAME X30 Series. Al-Azhari has had a dominant campaign in the 2025 F4 Championship, with three wins and six podiums, and also two victories in Saudi Arabia F4.
Gebrael is another bright talent, securing second-place in this year’s UAE National Karting Championship. Lacobucci has made his mark in karting, racing in the 60 Mini category, ROK Cup, WSK, and the Italian International Mini Championship.
Yas Heat Racing will also participate in top regional karting competitions during the campaign, with a young all-Emirati team of drivers.
In the Bambino Karting category, the drivers are Yousef Al-Khayyat (7), who came second in the Al -Sabq event recently, and Zayed Al-Ansari (7) another top finisher from Al-Sabq, who has made strides in the IAME Bambino Championship.
They will be joined by Rayan Al-Ameri (6) who participated in his first IAME race in the Bambino Category last week.
Faris Haroun (12), a three-time winner in different categories of the MENA Championship, will compete in the UAE Rotax Junior, while another rising star Essa Al-Hammadi (14) will line up in the IAME Junior category.
Among those to have represented Yas Heat are the UAE’s young motorsport stars and ambassadors including Rashid Al-Dhaheri, and Yas Heat’s graduate Keanu Al-Azhari, a vice-champion of the 2024 Spanish F4 Championship, who drove in GB3, now with F1’s Alpine Academy, and will race in the Euro Cup 3.
Yas Heat’s list includes Emirati sisters Amna and Hamda Al-Qubaisi, who have had impressive careers so far including racing in the F1 Academy.
Al-Dhaheri has competed in Italian F4 and UAE F4, is now part of the Mercedes Junior Driver Programme, and also the F3 program for 2026.
Ali Al-Beshr, general manager of Yas Marina Circuit, said the lineup “reflects the depth and diversity of talent that continues to grow within the UAE’s motorsport community.”
He added: “Alongside the wider group, we remain committed to advancing Emirati talent through initiatives such as Al-Sabq, which has already proven its impact at the grassroots level.
“With strengthened karting and F4 structures, this new cohort is well positioned to build on the achievements of our graduates and further elevate the UAE’s presence on regional and international stages.”
