Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Co. signs on T2 rally champion Adel Abdulla for a second season

Qatar’s Adel Hussein Abdulla, who won the FIA cross country rally title in the T2 category, will continue to be supported by Nissan Qatar, it was announced recently. Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Co, the exclusive dealer for Nissan in Qatar have confirmed that they will be extending their support to Abdulla for a second season
Abdulla, driving a Nissan Patrol, had produced a strong performance in the cross country rally world cup and had finished second in the standings, behind Saudi Arabia’s Yasir Saeidan. But the Qatari won the title after his team – TOK Sport – protested the legality of Saeidan’s car at the Rally of Morocco. The protest was upheld at a recent FIA Court of Appeal and the Saudi driver was docked the points from that rally. This gave Abdulla the title.
The Qatari will now enter the 2017 season as the defending champion and thanked Nissan Qatar for their continuing support. “Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Co is one of the major players in the local market. The support of Hisham Saleh al-Mana and his team throughout 2016 played a major role in winning the world championship. My team and I are very pleased to continue this close working partnership for the 2017 season where we again are aiming to win the championship for the second time. Last year winning could not have been achieved without the support of the sponsors QMMF, Nissan & Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Co,” said Abdulla during the press conference.
Hisham Saleh al-Mana, Chairman and managing director of Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Co, said: “It is great to be part of a winning team and a pleasure to know that our contribution to Adel and his QX Rally Team in 2016 resulted in winning the World Championship. We are strong supporters for talented and ambitious Qataris whose quest is to achieve the best in what they do. Adel has proven that nothing is impossible.”
Apart from the sponsorship, Abdulla has also been signed on as the brand ambassador by Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana and will be part of the organisation’s CSR activities, which includes promoting safe driving in Qatar.  
Adel and his Nissan Patrol XE will be participating in a total of 11 T2 World Rally Championship events around the world and in the four regional championships.