TOTAL RETURNS TO DRIVE PR FOR SULAYEM

Dubai, UAE, 9th June, 2010: Total Communications has resumed its long standing working relationship with Mohammed Ben Sulayem and the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE).

The agency has signed a new long-term contract to provide comprehensive PR support for all ATCUAE events and activities both within and outside the motor sport arena, as well as for Sulayem’s increasingly influential role with the FIA.

The ATCUAE President is Vice President of the FIA and the first ever Arab member of its most powerful body, the World Motor Sport Council, which decides on rules, regulations, safety and development of motor sport at every level, from karting to Formula One.

Total Communications is the Arabian Gulf partner for ECCO International Communications, which offers PR and marketing support in over 40 countries, and is one of the UAE’s longest established public relations firms.

Celebrating its 20th year of operation in 2010, the agency provided PR support for Sulayem and his sponsors for much of his career as a record breaking rally driver. He was Middle East champion 14 times and scored more than 60 international rally victories.

From its launch in 1991, Total Communications helped Sulayem establish the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge as the top event in the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies and its motor bike equivalent, the FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship. And after Sulayem became President of the ATCUAE in 2006, the agency worked closely with him as he developed the Club into the leading national motor sport authority in the Middle East.

“We have enjoyed a close relationship with Mohammed since the company was formed,” said Tony Lewis, Managing Director of Total Communications. “We’re delighted to be working with him and the ATCUAE again after a short break.”

Sulayem said: “We have long-term plans to build on what has been achieved at the ATCUAE and it’s important to have a long-term partnership with a PR agency which has the knowledge and specialist experience to support us across our full range of events and activities.”

Sulayem has restructured the ATCUAE over the last 12 months, with Emirati Mahir Badri stepping in as Chief Executive to head an operations team including Sean O’Connor as Director, John Spiller as Motor Sport Director and Ronan Morgan as Sports Project Director.