We strongly believe that a motorsport business like GulfSport is not about who has the biggest race truck or the best workshop (although we do have quite a nice truck and an epoxy floor in our workshop). Fundamentally, we run a knowledge business. So whether you’re buying your first race helmet from our retail store or you are trying to find 0.5 seconds on the International Circuit you will undoubtedly take advice guidance from our team.  Its for these reasons that we have been very careful in assembling and maintaining the most knowledgeable and professional team in the region.

Ghassan Tabbah Shalabi – CEO

Ghassan Tabbah Shalabi is an entrepreneur with a passion for technology businesses and motor racing. Most of the other companies in his Jeddah based Strata Group are engaged in manufacturing, engineering, real estate and IT. Ghassan is the major shareholder in GulfSport Racing LLC having got involved with GulfSport Racing in 2005. Strata Group provides a number of shared business services including IT, HR and Financial Accounting which contribute to GulfSport being able to operate one the most effective and efficient small businesses in the region.

Andrew Lemon – Marketing Director

Along with Ghassan, Andrew was one of the key people involved with GulfSport from the early days. He was pivotal in the move from Bahrain and establishing GulfSport in the UAE. Architect by trade, Andrew is a leading property developer in the UAE and was responsible for the development and sale of the highly regarded Le Reve development in Dubai Marina. However Andrew’s passion lies with powered vehicles. He has ridden motorcycles (Qatar to the UK, Alaska, US, South East Asia and further), race cars and has owned a variety of weird and wonderful machinery.

Barry Hope – Director of Racing & Sales

An authority on the development of motor racing in the UAE, ex-motocross racer and FIA race license holder, Barry has a demonstrable and unparalleled record of achievement in motorsport.

Over a 34 year period he has combined board level business development experience with a passion for motor racing to incubate a number of successful and enduring motor sport initiatives.

These include the UAE’s two longest running motorsport series; the DMX Motocross Championship (since 1978) and the GulfSport Radical Cup (since 2006). He is also the co-founder of GulfSport Racing, the region’s leading race team and professional motorsport equipment and racewear retailer.

Since moving to Dubai at the age of 27  Barry has gained a unique and valuable insight into the buying habits, culture, trends and behaviour of drivers, sponsors, governing bodies and motor racing infrastructure owners in the Gulf.

Martin Hope – Technical Director

Martin was on the ground representing GulfSport Racing back in early 2003 in Bahrain at the age of 22. He had just left Brookes University in Oxford with a BSc Hons in Automotive Engineering Management. Martin competed in over 500 Kart races in the UK, in both  Saloon and Sports car series, Radical Series and more recently in the UAE GT Championship. He has worked in teams running Karts to F1 cars. An accomplished race driver and highly qualified race engineer Martin is able to pin-point specific issues and offer effective advice that enables drivers to improve their driving every time they go on track thus delivering enormous value to GulfSport’s customers.

Gary Francis – Race Workshop Manager

Gary has earned a fierce reputation in Dubai motor racing circles for preparing some of the most outstanding race cars to the highest quality. With a combination of craft and engineering skills honed during his apprenticeship as a church organ builder and his time at the Royal Aircraft Establishment in Farnborough, Gary is the ultimate trouble shooter – the primary skillset of a good race mechanic. Staff turnover is almost zero at GulfSport because he is just a great guy to work with.

Mike Scott – Retail Sales Manager

Mike probably knows more about racewear, professional racing equipment, standards and FIA homologation than any human alive. With a backgound encompassing 10 years at the world’s largest motorsport equipment retailer, gearbox kart racing, saloon car racing, rally car preparation and scrutineering, Mike needs to be a guest on Master Mind with his specialist subject being – Motorsport Products.