Qatar Marine Sports Federation president Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor al-Thani holding Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah’s team shirt for the Super Boat International Racing series during a press conference in Doha yesterday. INSET: Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah: Qatar’s multi-sports icon.
By N D Prashant/Sports Reporter
After having made his mark in the sport of rallying and shooting, Qatar’s multi-sports icon Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah now aims to tame the waters.
The 42-year-old will be trying his hand at power boat racing and taking part in the Super Boat International Racing series to be held at Key West, Florida, in November (3-10) and later in Doha in January 2014 in his new boat 613.
“We are happy to have Nasser on board. He is immensely talented and we are confident he can do well,” said Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor al-Thani, president of the Qatar Marine Sports Federation, during a press conference in Doha yesterday.
“Nasser was using our workshop facilities for his rally car in April this year. He saw our boats there and expressed his desire to try out powerboats. We offered him the seat and he accepted. We have taken Matteo Nicolini on board and he will be his throttleman,” added Sheikh Hassan.
Al-Attiyah was not present during the press conference due to his rallying commitments but speaking to Gulf Times over the phone from Germany, where he is scheduled to take part in the Deutschland Rally, he said: “I’m extremely delighted to take up a new sport. Sheikh Hassan was willing to take me on board and I’m more than happy to join them.”
“I’m confident of doing justice to this sport as well. I have always taken the task at hand seriously and you can be assured that I will put my best foot forward. I will definitely find enough time for this,” added al-Attiyah, who is banking on his rallying expertise to help him excel in power boating.
“I have had interest in water sports for a long time and I used to do that as a hobby. I have driven speed boats during my vacation and I’m a very good swimmer. I’m sure my rallying and shooting experience will help me do well,” revealed the former Dakar Rally champion.
Al-Attiyah was happy to have the renowned Italian throttleman Nicolini by his side.
“Nicolini has a lot of experience and together we will be a great pair. In a sport like this, the throttleman’s experience counts a great deal,” said al-Attiyah, the eight times FIA Middle East Rally Championship winner.
Al-Attiyah and Nicolini will conduct the first test of the boat in Doha in October ahead of the opening race in Key West.
“We will be having a one-week test and I’m confident that Nasser and I will be ready for this new challenge. We are very excited about this association and looking forward to the first test,” said Nicolini, who has served the QMSF for over a decade.
When asked how difficult it would be for al-Attiyah to get adjusted to the boat and to be fully ready for the challenge, Nicolini said: “Nasser is an ace rally driver so he is well aware of the speed. To drive a rally car in the desert is as difficult as controlling the racing boat in waters. Since he is a world champion in car rally he should be able to transfer his skills to power boating racing as well.”
Al-Attiyah’s rallying commitments have kept him away from shooting at times - an event that saw him win a bronze for Qatar at the Olympic Games in London last year.
However, Sheikh Hassan was confident of working out a calendar that could fit with Nasser’s tight schedule.
“I don’t think his rallying or shooting commitments will be affected. We fixed the training after consulting with him. The competition dates are discussed and he is fine with them,” revealed Sheikh Hassan.
Apart from this, Sheikh Hassan stressed on the need to focus on the youth this season and have come out with several training programmes to develop interest among the youngsters.
“We want to draw more kids to the sport and for that we have to start at the grass root level. We have introduced summer camps which will start in August-end in collaboration with the Qatar Swimming Federation, Red Crescent and Qatar Diving Academy.”
The Superboat event that al-Attiyah would be participating in is a new addition to the QMSF calendar and it will draw several top drivers from the world. Though the number of team are not yet finalised, Sheikh Hassan revealed that the waters of Doha would be “busy”.
“We are having discussion with shipping companies for transportation of the boats and only after that we can decide on how many teams will be coming. However, an announcement on that will be made soon,” said Sheikh Hassan.
Qatar’s is currently leading the F1 powerboat racing after two legs and both drivers Alex Carella and Shaun Torrente are confident of retaining the title with four more races to go.
“We are sure we can go on to win the title again as both Carella and Torrente are in great shape and so are their boats. We have done it in the past and that was not a fluke,” said Khalid bin Arahama al-Kuwari, head of Formula One and Pleasure Boat racing in QMSF.
QMSF has also planned to host Jet ski races, Junior Hydroplane marathons, Fly board and Pleasure Boat events this season.
