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Al Qassimi aims for top spot in Dubai

Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi and his co-driver Chris Patterson will compete in the Dubai International Rally on board of the DS 3 RRC.Aby Dhabi Racing's junior team consists of Mohamed Al Mutawaa, Mansoor Belhelei and Saeed Bintouq competing in the 2WD DS 3 R3.Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi and his co-driver Chris Patterson have their sights firmly set on first place this weekend, at his home event in the Dubai International Rally on board the DS 3 RRC.

Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi won the Dubai International Rally two times and again last year where Al Qassimi (and Patterson) won the top spot in Dubai earning him Middle East Rally Championship title. However he was later stripped of his win after an appeal by a competitor, which lost him the title. Al Qassimi is looking to end the 2015 Middle East Rally Championship with a win on home soil.

"This year's strategy is no different from previous years; we will push hard from SS1 till the checkered flag", said Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi. "Last year's event was very competitive; we pushed hard and set the fastest times in most of the stages. As a result we won the rally which secured our 2014 MERC title although it was removed a week later. So we are very focused on the upcoming Rally and will do our best to win, barring any technical issues I believe we have a good chance".

Three Abu Dhabi Racing Junior drivers will be competing in the 2WD class, the 2014 2WD and youth cup champion Mohamed Al Mutawaa and his co-driver Stephen McAuley, Saeed Bintouq and his co-driver Allan Harryman and the winner of the last 2 rounds and the current 2WD championship leader Mansoor Belhelei and his co-driver Khaled Al Kendi.

This year Dubai Rally will consist of 12 timed stages over two days, the competitive length of the rally is approximately 255 km, an increase of about 15 km from 2014, but the total distance of the rally will be almost 969 kms when the liaison sections are included.