Omar Saleem

Early life

Born on the 5th of February, 1980, Rawalpindi, Pakistan to a colonel in the Pakistan Army, Omar Saleem from a young age desired and fantasized about being a race driver. Omar Saleem started racing professionally in the years 2000-2002 at a Motor sports facility in Illinois called The Motor sports Ranch. He has been certified by the FIA and recognized by MAP (Motor sports Association of Pakistan). He also holds a valid FIA International Driving License by qualifying for the FIA course and passing the test.

Omar Saleem has been one of the very few people who have time and again tried to Promote Motorsports in Pakistan through different channels and Mediums. He is also recognized as the ONLY Cars related show host who actually has good knowledge about Cars, Engines and Motorsports.

Organizer first ‘Freedom Rally’ Pakistan & the initiator of the rally culture in Pakistan

Omar Saleem was the chief organizer for arranging the first rally in Pakistan after a break of over 15 years on 14 August 2004, called the Freedom Rally, which has now become a yearly fixture. He is also the winner of ‘Category C’ 2007 Freedom Rally.

Apart from that Omar Saleem has also taken part in various rallies held all over Pakistan mainly the Cholistan, Jhal Magsi & Thar Rallies. He has also won Pakistan's biggest Cholistan rally held in 2008. All rallies that he has ever participated in, Omar has successfully bagged a place on the podium.

Omar Saleem has also participated in two 24 hour karting races held in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai Autodrome, sponsored by ‘Nivea for Men’ in 2005-2006.

Major Sponsors

Major sponsors, who have placed their faith in Omar’s abilities, time and again, as a racing icon in Pakistan, include the likes of:

• Shell Pakistan
• Chevron Pakistan Caltex
• Telenor
• Gillette Pakistan
• Nokia Pakistan
• Motorola
• HUM TV (Eye Television Network)
• Khadim Ali Shah Bukhari Bank (KASB)
• Adam Motors
• Sigma Land Rover

Trendsetter of Drifting Events in Pakistan

For Gillette Pakistan, Omar organized the FIRST EVER DRIFTING EVENT (a brand new form of Motor Sports) in 2007. This program was also televised by AAG TV, Pakistan's premier youth channel.

Racing Career: (2004 – till date)

1. Freedom Rally - August 2004 (organizing sponsors were Motorola, Adam motor company & Sigma Land Rover)
2. Freedom Rally - August 2005 (Pole position - Category ‘A’)
3. Cholistan Rally - March 2006 (pole position (Open Category)
4. Jhal Magsi - November 2006 – (4th position Category ‘C’.)
5. Freedom Rally - August 2007, (Participated in Category ‘C’, pole position, sponsored by SHELL & KASB BANK)
6. Jhal Magsi - Nov 2007 - (4th Position, sponsored by SHELL & KASB)
7. Cholistan Rally - March 2008 (pole position Category ‘C’, sponsored by Nokia)

TV career

Omar Saleem started his TV career in 2004-2005 by hosting and producing the very first automotive TV series called ‘4x4’ (ONE SEASON – 13 EPISODES) for a local cable channel called ZUTV in Karachi, Pakistan. ZUTV was owned and operated by ‘Worldcall’, Pakistan's number 1 cable service provider. In this show he reviewed & test drove rally prepared vehicles off the road. The show was a major success in Karachi resulting in the inception of the longest running automotive satellite series in Pakistan, for which Omar was approached by HUM TV.

This show, called ‘HIOCTANE’,^[1] ran a record 156 episodes (12 SEASONS). Omar hence started his official TV career from 2005-2008 with HIOCTANE. HI-OCTANE was the first show on satellite to be broadcasted to the 180 million population of Pakistan in addition to the different GCC countries and Europe. Omar was awarded the HUM TV ‘Special Recognition Award’ for 2005 & 2006, for HIOCTANE being the highest revenue generator. Inspired by the long running BBC show called Top GEAR, the show gained instant and maximum viewer ship within a very short time span. With repeat telecasts thrice a week, the show further established its stronghold and popularity among the masses. The popularity of the show and of Omar Saleem gained enough momentum for him to be approached by the BBC World Network for a documentary called ‘Karachi Uncovered’ in 2007 and a front page, print interview published by the Daily Times May 13, 2006.

Omar Saleem has also filmed various adventure based reality shows on multiple TV channels. The most popular being the ‘Motorcycle Adventures with Omar Saleem’ sponsored by Chevron Pakistan (Caltex). This show has aired one season and the second season is being reviewed. This show was telecasted by Play TV, (owned by The Business Recorder Group). Numerous guest appearances in TV serials, sitcoms, print & ramp modeling and TV commercials for Coca Cola, Cadbury's Perk & Walls Feast are some of the many horizons that Omar has ventured and made a name into.

Events Covered

• 2006-2007 season of A1GP racing live studio coverage for Geo Super, Pakistan's Sports channel. He has commented & reviewed 22, A1GP races all over the world Live from the studio.
• 2007, AAG TV Drift 360, Eid special. Hosted as well as organized the show. (Footage available)
• All rallies participated in have also been covered by Omar Saleem as part of the HIOCTANE series for HUM TV.

Pipeline Projects

1. Jeedar: This is Omar Saleem's pet project in recognition of Pakistan Army's services against the war on terror. For this production Omar has spent time with the different corps of the Pakistan Army. A tribute to the trials & tribulations that the Pakistan army goes through and all necessary trainings to equip them for the aforesaid. This show is still under production phase for the AAJ News Network. (Promo reference provided)
2. Cook ‘N’ Cowboys: An underway production for Masala TV Pakistan’s first and according to Gallop Rating the number one local food channel. First episode launch expected in August 2009.
3. The ‘Brabus Rockville Group’ has recently entered into a revenue sharing relationship with the owners of the Islamabad Race Track located ideally at the Lakeview Park.

The first ever Race team of Pakistan by the name of ‘Team Brabus Racing’ is an offshoot of this venture, for which Omar Saleem has been appointed the official Race Driver and Project Director.

Focal points are:

1. Setting up a high end workshop for high performance cars and racing upgrades.
2. Inspection and maintenance of all sponsor pits and actively searching for sponsors to display their hoardings on the vicinity of the track.
3. Café at Brabus to cater to the influx of racing enthusiasts and corporate sponsors.
4. The Group will also be active in launching different events like karting, autocrosses, drifting.
5. Future plans of launching a race school to train drivers, mechanics & marshals.

An increasing number of various TV productions under his belt, kept Omar from participating in a few rallies over the past eight months however he ensures participation in the bi-monthly Autocrosses, held in Karachi. This event which is privately funded through registration fees is a clear indication of the gaining popularity of the motor sports industry in Pakistan.

References

1. ^ http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C05%5C13%5Cstory_13-5-2006_pg12_8

External links

• http://brabus.rockvillegroup.com/teamracing/
• RacingPakistan.com | Official Racing Pakistan Web Site
• http://www.adammotor.com/news.htm
• http://www.jumptv.com/en/channel/humtv/
• http://www.chaltatv.com/view_video.php?viewkey=94d4de38a79db4d2b18f&msg=Your+feature+request+is+sent+successfully
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r4FJmHWRhM
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wyb874BTpt4
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCxf21l0gu0

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