Baku chief keen to educate Azerbaijan about F1

Arif Rahimov, the head of Baku City Circuit (BCC), says his goal is to educate Azerbaijan about Formula One, with the country set to host this year’s European Grand Prix on June 16-19.

In a wide ranging interview with The Paddock Magazine, Rahimov explains how the event’s organisers have been busy spurring interest and motivating the local population.

“We have recruited and trained nearly 5,000 volunteers and 1,000 marshals from across the country to work at this year’s race and in doing so have helped develop an in-built love amongst these young people for the sport as well as an appreciation of its sheer size and importance that they will hopefully carry with them for years to come,” the BCC boss said.

“We have also taken some of our key media to Grand Prix race weekends – Abu Dhabi & Bahrain – to show them just how incredible a Formula 1 show can be and help them deliver this message to our domestic audience better.

“Furthermore, we have held regular workshops and media events utilising our VIP celebrity ambassadors [including two-time F1 world champion Fernando Alonso] to help educate students, media and the general population.”

Rahimov knows it will take time to see these early seeds blossom into a new stronghold of F1 fans, but he is leaving no stone unturned as highlighted by his support to the nascent motorsport scene in Azerbaijan.

“We are aware that Baku will not turn into a motorsport capital overnight but ideally, we want to create a new, active and educated generation of Formula 1 fans here in Azerbaijan.

“As the promoter of the inaugural Formula 1 race in [the country], it is of course a dream of mine to one day see an Azerbaijani team and/or driver competing in the sport.

“At this moment in time, Baku City Circuit is actively supporting one of our country’s great young prospects, 19-year-old driver Gulhuseyn Abdullayev, to achieve his dream of one day racing in the world’s most prestigious motorsport championship.”

Abdullayev recently featured in a video of the first onboard lap of the Baku City Circuit.

FEATURE: Six races in - 2015 v 2016 comparisons

Ziv Knoll's Indy 500 diary

Alex Wurz: Let's get back to extreme track designs

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter