Strength in depth rather than actual numbers is the feature of the Qatar International Rally, round one of the 2012 FIA Middle East Rally Championship, which will take place in Qatar from today.
Qatar’s premier international rally, organised by the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF), will open the curtains to an exciting new season of Middle East rallying as the new Al-Shabhana desert special stage will get proceedings underway.
A nine-time winner of his home event Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah will be chasing his 46th individual MERC event victory as he tops the 18-driver entry list.
Nasser, who was forced to pull out of the Dakar Rally due to a water pump failure when he was second in the standings, will be keen to erase the disappointment in Argentina by putting up a good show in his home event.
“It’s all part of the big journey. You win some, you lose some. But you’ve to move on. I was disappointed when I had to pull out from Dakar due to a mechanical problem. But there’s no point in sulking over it now,” Nasser told Gulf Times yesterday.
“The new season is starting. It will be a test for our car and I’m ready for it,” said Nasser, who is reuniting with his Italian co-driver Giovanni Bernacchini in a Ford Fiesta for the event.
“Several good cars are taking part in the rally and all the drivers will need to use their mind more during this tough rally,” he said.
Last year’s event marked the first career MERC victory for Abdulaziz and Nasser al-Kuwari and the first international rally victory for Prodrive’s Mini S2000.
Al-Kuwari is one of several Qatari drivers keen to win the event and begin what promises to be a thrilling season with a maximum haul of 25 championship points. His victory in 2012 brought to an end a nine-year winning streak of Nasser.
Spearheading a five-car challenge by Abu Dhabi Racing in the rally, Sheikh Khalid al-Qassimi is also a top title contender.
“I am feeling no pressure, but I am excited for the rally. This is the only championship where you will find world level challenges and I am looking forward to the start,” Khalid al-Qassimi said.
This year’s regional series will be fought out over further rallies in Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Cyprus and Dubai and the FIA have introduced new class categories for young drivers, Group N ‘showroom type’ cars and two-wheel drive machines, although seven RRCs (Regional Rally Cars) are being driven by the top seeds in Qatar.
“On behalf of the QMMF I welcome everyone to Qatar for the start of another season of rallying,” said Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation president Nasser Khalifa al-Attiyah.
“We have new stages, one of the strongest entries in terms of the quality of the cars and the performances of the drivers and I am sure it is going to be a fantastic start to the new rallying calendar.”
UAE co-driver Khaled al-Kendi has one of the busiest programmes of anyone in international rallying this season. Fresh from finishing 31st overall with Abdullah al-Heraiz with a Toyota in the Dakar Rally, al-Kendi is teaming up with Qatar’s Abdullah al-Kuwari this weekend in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution before embarking on a hectic season of rallying.
“Dakar was fantastic,” said al-Kendi. “Maybe a little easier than last year but we managed to reach the finish. Now we have the MERC and I am looking forward to teaming up with Abdullah this weekend. We will also race together in the national rallies in Qatar.
“I will also work with Abu Dhabi Racing in Sweden and then I have a programme of WRC events with Rashid (al-Ketbi) in WRC2 with the Skoda and the cross-country rallies with Yayha (al-Helai). Abdullah al-Heraiz and I are also looking ahead to the Dakar again in 2013 and maybe some testing in France and a rally later in the year in Morocco. It’s a busy year, for sure.”
A selection of the leading drivers on the entry list joined QMMF president Nasser Khalifa al-Attiyah, QMMF board member Sultan al-Muraiki and visiting FIA vice-president Mohammed Ben Sulayem at the official pre-event press conference yesterday afternoon.
Leading starters:
1. Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/Giovanni Bernacchini (ITA) Ford Fiesta
3. Khalid al-Qassimi (UAE)/Scott Martin (GBR) Citroën DS3
4. Abdulaziz al-Kuwari (QAT)/Killian Duffy (IRL) Ford Fiesta
5. Khalid al-Suwaidi (QAT)/Nicola Arena (ITA) Ford Fiesta
6. Abdullah al-Qassimi (UAE)/Steve Lancaster (GBR) Ford Fiesta
7. Yazeed al-Rajhi (KSA)/Michael Orr (GBR) Ford Fiesta
8. Alaa Rasheed (JOR)/Joseph Matar (LEB) Ford Fiesta
9. Mishari al-Thefiri (KWT)/Mubarak Al-Thefiri (KWT) Mitsubishi Lancer
10. Abdullah al-Kuwari (QAT)/Khalid Al-Kendi (UAE) Mitsubishi Lancer
11. Burcu Cetincaya (TUR)/Ozlem Akguc (TUR) Mitsubishi Lancer
12. Michele de Nora (ITA)/Sergio Secchi (ITA) Subaru Impreza
