Later next year, a selection programme will be run to pick new members of the Abu Dhabi Racing team for next year’s FIA Middle East Rally Championship
Abu Dhabi, UAE, 24th October, 2013: With Spain setting a tough examination on his last World Rally Championship appearance of the season this weekend, Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi already has one eye on the route ahead for Abu Dhabi Racing.
For the next three days, his sole concern will be the awkward combination of tarmac and gravel roads that make up Rally de España, which the Emirati driver starts tomorrow (Friday) in partnership with Scott Martin in their Abu Dhabi Citroën Total DS3.
Following an evening ceremonial start beside the centuries old Barcelona Cathedral, the first three stages of the rally unfold in darkness on Catalonia’s Costa Daurada, and Al Qassimi is prepared for a demanding test as he pursues his best WRC finish of the season.
If he can improve on his ninth positions in Portugal and Australia, and a seventh place in Spain in 2010 suggests he can, it would be an ideal way to round off his current 2013 WRC campaign before turning his full attention to next year’s.
“I’ve already started planning ahead for next season, and at some stage soon I’m going to sit down and finalise my 2014 rally schedule,” he said from the Abu Dhabi Citroën rally base at Port Aventura.
“I need to decide on how many WRC and Middle East Championship events to enter, and that will depend on my many other responsibilities as chairman of Abu Dhabi Racing.
“We have a lot of plans for next season and the main aim is to increase the opportunities for other Emirati drivers in different areas of motor sport, so I may only be able to drive in around ten to 11 events myself.”
In the next week, Abu Dhabi Racing will announce plans to establish a new academy in the UAE capital to develop young UAE nationals as professional racing drivers.
Later in the year, a selection programme will be run to pick new members of the Abu Dhabi Racing team for next year’s FIA Middle East Rally Championship.
Mohamed Al Mutawaa and Mohammed Al Sahlawhi, who came through the first selection programme last November, are also in WRC action in Spain this weekend in a pair of identical Abu Dhabi Citroën DS3 R3 2WDs.
“This is another great opportunity for them to gain valuable experience and continue their development as drivers,” said Al Qassimi. “They have already learned a lot from competing with us this season, and our aim is to make it possible for many more young drivers to follow them into the Middle East Championship and the WRC.”
The immediate priority for Al Qassimi is to put in a good performance over the first two days in Spain over sweeping race circuit-style asphalt roads which give way to gravel for the last six stages on Sunday.
