Formula One feasts

Motorsport loving cafe owner Sameer Uchi can savour the flavour of Formula One every time he calls into his popular eating house.

Opened in 2005, Motorox Cafe in Budaiya is a firm favourite with young enthusiasts as well as families and business people with a tasteful interest in Formula One.

The walls, painted in red and black, are covered with pictures taken during F1 events in Bahrain, parts of racing cars, number plates, tyres and T-shirts signed by the stars of the sport.

Mr Uchi, 38, is also a magazine publisher. He said: 'I got the chance to meet a lot of motor sport professionals and travelled to different countries where I met drivers from all kind of racing - be it F1, drag racing, Formula BMW and others,' he explained.

During his trips home and abroad he was able to focus his camera on the stars. 'I thought it would be nice to have these pictures displayed somewhere and since I like coffee shops I thought I could combine these two passions together.

'I didn't have a book which showed me how to do it, so I did everything according to what I thought was right ... of course, I did make some mistakes in the beginning but gradually, with experience, I learned how to run it properly.

'I have a partner, Mohammed Kayani, who has been a great support during all these years.

'I wanted people who have an interest in F1, whether individuals involved in the actual motor sport or those who are a fan of the race, to experience a similar environment when they come to my coffee shop.

'That is why you see on the walls parts of F1 motor cars such as the nose, the door and the wings.

'Basically, I started collecting parts which were recovered from accidents, some I had to buy and other parts where gifts.

'Two of the motor engines, for example, where given to be by Shaikh Basel bin Al Sabah from Kuwait and we converted them into tables!'

Mr Uchi also enjoys highlighting the sporting success of fellow Bahrainis racing to success on the track.

'We have also displayed pictures of Bahraini racers such as Shaikh Salman Al Khalifa and Hamad Al Fardan who started at a very young age and are now professionals,' he explained.

'I also have a very valuable frame from an F1 race that took place in Bahrain in 2006. There are six number plates in it and each one of them is signed by the top six teams which were here including McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari, the the Renault team.

'It was given to me by Bahrain International Circuit officials during an event held for their staff in my coffee shop for supporting them and motor sports in Bahrain.'

Although none of the Formula One stars have dropped by for a Chicken Dragster, many of the team mechanics and assistants have called in to enjoy a Calamari Gears or to sample the Jet Caesar Salad, Nitrous Grilled Chicken, Grand Prix Steak and Marshals Fish & Chips.

The Stewards Seafood Linguini also proves popular.

You can also see racks of helmets from different teams and their sponsors displayed in the cafŽ and F1 fans often flock to Motorox to watch the series staged abroad.

Mr Uchi said: 'We have a lot of TVs in the coffee shop and screen international races and our DVD library contains coverage of motor sport events from around the world.

'For the past three years we have had bookings from companies and sponsors involved in the F1 race and this year is no exception.

'They come here in big groups and I think the reason they choose Motorox is because they want to be in a place which has the same feeling and environment of the F1 race.'

It may also have something to do with the filling F2 Burger and the Bahrain Drag Racing Club Sandwich. First to finish also gets to tuck into a Raikkonen Brownie ... now that's the sweet taste of success!