Dubai: Defending champion Nasser Al Attiyah wants to walk out on a high before turning his attention to preparations for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
The next year will be crucial tussle for time as Al Attiyah does the balancing act of pursuing shooting and rallying. He has been successful in both sports — crowned the Production World Rally Champion in 2006 and winning the 2011 Dakar Rally, and a year later taking the bronze medal in men’s skeet shooting at the London Olympics.
On Friday, Al Attiyah will go head-to-head with the UAE’s Shaikh Khalid Al Qasimi in the 36th Dubai International Rally, with the winner walking away with the FIA Middle East Rally Championship crown. It will be a tenth FIA Middle East title for the Qatari, while for Shaikh Khalid it will be his third.
This season, after five of the total six rounds, Al Attiyah holds a narrow six-point lead over the UAE driver. Al Attiyah has 75 points while Shaikh Khalid is in second with 69 points and Abdul Aziz Al Kuwari of Qatar lying just three points from the UAE driver.
“This will be a very important race for all of us. Dubai has always been special to me and with the experience I have I am hoping to win this one so that I can turn my attention to prepare and win the gold medal at the Rio Olympics,” Al Attiyah told media here on Thursday.
“I have already planned a really tough schedule in 2015 to prepare for Rio, and this includes spending six months of rigorous training outside Qatar,” he disclosed.
Al Attiyah will be in a Ford Fiesta RRC alongside Giovanni Bernacchini aiming for a tenth Middle East title. “At the moment it is all about this race so that we can finish off on a high,” said the Qatar World Rally Team driver.
Partnered by Chris Patterson in his Abu Dhabi Racing Citroen DS3, Shaikh Khalid expressed his willingness to make the race a memorable event by winning it. “It’s important that I or any other UAE driver wins this rally as it is so close to our National Day celebrations. And what we need is a huge dose of luck on our side,” Shaikh Khalid said.
“It is difficult to predict anything in rallying. And going by past experiences I have not been very lucky on home terrain, but I hope we have the luck and that everyone returns back safe,” he added.
14-time Middle East champion Mohammad Bin Sulayem predicted a tough battle for the title. “It would be foolish to think that the battle will be between Nasser and Shaikh Khalid. There are several other talented drivers and one of them may spring a surprise,” Bin Sulayem said.
Held under the patronage of Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President, UAE National Olympic Committee (UAE NOC), the rally will have a customary flag-off in front of Ibis Hotel next to the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) on Friday morning. After four sessions spanning two legs of rallying in the desert of Zubaidah, Al Falaj, Shawqa, Al Dhaid, Mileiha and Kadra, the first car is expected to finish and arrive at the same venue by 4.30pm on Saturday.
