Spanish third division side Recreativo "managed to fend off automatic relegation and almost certain liquidation right at the last minute pending confirmation in the next few hours from the Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE) that finances have been raised in order to pay players' wages." Huelva regional council was "able to santise the club's debts with a short term loan" of €1M ($1.11M), which means Recre avoid dropping to the Third Division, which in effect, "would have resulted in the club being forced to dissolve." Two other clubs that "have not complied" with AFE regulations to guarantee that players and club employees will receive their salaries -- Huracán Valencia and Lucena -- missed Thursday's midday deadline (AS, 6/30).
After five years running the Formula Gulf single-seater championship in the UAE, Dubai-based GulfSport Racing LLC "is embarking on an enhanced youth driver development program with the introduction of the 'Formula Gulf Academy.’" The Academy "offers drivers a comprehensive education while preparing them for a career in Motorsport and is aimed at younger drivers moving on from Karting and looking to use the European off-season to get a step ahead of the competition." The opportunity to test and race single-seater racing cars on two world class race circuits in the UAE during the winter months "has attracted drivers and their families from 21 countries to-date." The new six-month long Academy will cost participants $53,000, which includes flights to the UAE, personalized advanced driver coaching, fitness coaching and assessments, media training, engineering seminars, 1,400kms of testing and 400kms of racing on the region's race circuits (GULF NEWS, 6/30).
