GEMS SRI launches Dubai motorsport academy with former F1 driver Robert Doornbos

The Dubai Sports City school will combine STEM education, eSports, professional simulation and track experience through partners including Build4Performance and XL Motorsport.

Robert Doornbos at GEMS School of Research and Innovation for the launch of the GEMS SRI Motorsport Academy.

GEMS School of Research and Innovation has launched a Motorsport Academy in Dubai, with former Formula 1 driver Robert Doornbos joining as Ambassador for a program that will connect students with STEM, simulation and real-world motorsport pathways.

Doornbos announced the launch on LinkedIn, describing it as “the world’s first Motorsport Academy within a school.” The academy is based at GEMS School of Research and Innovation, a British curriculum school in Dubai Sports City within the GEMS Education network.

The GEMS SRI Motorsport Academy is scheduled for September 2026. The program will combine eSports, professional racing simulators, STEM education and track experience. Build4Performance, the racing simulator company associated with Doornbos, will provide simulation hardware, while XL Motorsport will support professional karting experiences at Dubai Kartdrome.

Doornbos said the academy is designed to help students explore roles across motorsport, including professional racing driver, race engineer, mechanic and strategist, as well as wider careers in the industry.

Motorsport academy launches at Dubai school

Doornbos framed the launch as both a professional and personal milestone. His children attend GEMS School of Research and Innovation, and he said the project connects motorsport with the school’s focus on innovation, technology and ambition.

“As a former Formula 1 driver, I’m honoured to become an Ambassador of the GEMS SRI Motorsport Academy and help inspire the next generation,” he said.

The academy will use motorsport as a route into STEM and workforce skills. Doornbos said the sport is “about so much more than driving fast,” pointing to “engineering, teamwork, data, leadership, resilience and performing under pressure, skills that extend far beyond the racetrack.”

The program has been developed with support from Ollie Millroy, the GEMS SRI team and the Varkey family, according to Doornbos’ post.

Simulators and karting create training pathway

Build4Performance will play a central role in the academy’s simulation element. The company develops professional racing simulators, including karting simulators and Formula One-style simulators.

Doornbos said: “I’m incredibly proud that Build4Performance will play an integral role in this journey. Our professional simulators, from karting simulators to full Formula One simulators, will give students the opportunity to develop their skills in one of the most realistic learning environments available.”

Build4Performance was founded in the Netherlands in 2020 and describes its work as merging racing experience with simulation technology. Its materials position the simulators for professionals seeking training tools and enthusiasts looking for a realistic racing setup.

The academy will also move students beyond simulation. XL Motorsport will provide track-based experiences at Dubai Kartdrome, giving students the chance to apply skills in a karting environment.

Doornbos described the model as a pathway that “simply didn’t exist before,” combining “eSports, professional simulation, STEM education and real world track experience.”

School links motorsport to future careers

GEMS School of Research and Innovation opened in 2025 as the flagship innovation school within the GEMS Education network. The school delivers an enhanced National Curriculum for England from FS1 to Year 9 and says its programs include AI, sustainability, entrepreneurship, sport, creative and performing arts, wellbeing and personalized learning pathways.

The motorsport academy adds another specialist route to that model, using a high-performance industry to expose students to technical, operational and leadership roles.

“Our mission is to help students discover and pursue their dreams, whether that’s becoming a professional racing driver, race engineer, mechanic, strategist, or building a career anywhere within the motorsport industry,” Doornbos said.

Doornbos’ background includes Formula 1, IndyCar and Champ Car racing, including time with Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso. He now works as a broadcaster, entrepreneur, keynote speaker and ambassador.

Doornbos closed the announcement by linking the project directly back to education: “The future of motorsport doesn’t start on the grid. It starts in the classroom.”