Dubai, UAE, 29th Nove 2010: The 32nd Dubai International Rally, taking place over UAE National Day weekend (Dec 2-4), is the final and deciding round of the 2010 FIA Middle East Rally Championship following previous rounds in in Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria and Cyprus.
One of the region’s most experienced drivers today predicted a three-way battle for victory in the Dubai International Rally and the arrival of a new FIA Middle East champion on UAE National Day weekend.
Michel Saleh, a survivor from the early days of regional rallying prior to the launch of the FIA Middle East Championship in 1984, expects UAE drivers Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi and Rashid Al Ketbi to fight Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah all the way in the final round of the 2010 series.
Reigning FIA Middle East Champion 2009 - Qatars Nasser Al-Attiyah
The UAE-based Lebanese driver also believes championship leader Misfer Al Marri will take a safe route to the top six place he needs to replace fellow countryman Al Attiyah as FIA Middle East champion.
“It will be between the three Super 2000 drivers, Nasser, Khalid and Rashid,” said Saleh, seeded seventh along with Jordanian co-driver Ziad Masannat in a Group N Mitsubishi Evolution 9.
“They will all be going for it and Rashid could be the one to watch. He has a new car and he knows the terrain so well. He won all but one of the stages on the second leg last year and this could be his year.”
Despite winning the last two rounds of the championship in Syria and Cyprus, defending Middle East champion and six-times winner Al Attiyah trails Al Marri by eight points. He needs to win in Dubai and count on his fellow Qatari finishing outside the top six if he is to retain the title.
“Misfer will just be going for the points he needs to make sure of the championship,” said Saleh. “The most important thing is that he drives his normal way, and doesn’t take any risks. The organisers have produced a very good route. The stages are smooth and that will help Misfer. I think he’ll be ok, and will be looking for a top four finish.”
Both driving Ford Fiesta Super 2000s, top-seed Al Attiyah will be partnered by Italian Giovanni Bernacchini and second-seeded Al Qassimi by Irishman Michael Orr. Accompanied by fellow-Emirati Khalid Al Kendi sixth-seed Al Ketbi drives a Skoda Fabia Evo2.
Organised by the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE), the 32nd Dubai International Rally is being held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Arts and Culture Authority. Enthusiasts can follow the rally on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DubaiInternationalRally
Sheikh Majid will officially launch the event at a ceremonial start on Emaar Boulevard beside The Palace in the Old Town Island, Dubai at 7.30pm on UAE National Day. Over the following two days six stages of approximately 22 kms each will all be run twice to produce a route of 280 kms leading to the finish back in the Old Town Island, Dubai at 4.30pm on Saturday.
Al Marri is bidding to become the eighth driver, and the fourth Qatari, to win the FIA Middle East Rally Championship in its 26-year history.
FIA Middle East Rally Championship drivers’ standings after seven of eight rounds:
- Misfer Al-Marri (QAT) 44pts
- Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT) 36pts
- Khaled Al-Suwaidi (QAT) 22pts
- Sheikh Abdulla Al-Qassimi (UAE) 21pts
- Sheikh Khalid Al-Qassimi (UAE) 20pts
- Yazeed Al-Rajhi (SA) 20pts
- Sheikh Hamad Al-Thani (QAT) 14pts
- Abdulaziz Al Kuwari (QAT) 14pts
- Essam Al-Nejadi (KWT) 14pts
- Mohammed Al Marri (QAT) 10pts
The Ceremonial start of the rally takes place on Emaar Boulevard beside The Palace in the Old Town Island, Dubai at 7.30pm on UAE National Day, December 2.
Dubai Int Rally Day 1 Stages
The special stages on Leg 1 (Friday, December 3) are found in the Malaiha and Shawka area and can be easily located from the Sharjah-Kalba Road.
Dubai Int Rally Day 2 Stages
The special stages on Leg 2 (Saturday, December 4) are in the Al Dhaid area and can be easily located from the Sharjah-Kalba Road or the Al Dhaid Road.
The Rally finish is at the Old Town Island, Dubai at 4.30pm on Saturday, December 4.
Enthusiasts can follow the rally on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DubaiInternationalRally
The official website for the rally organisers, the ATCUAE is http://www.atcuae.ae/
FIA Middle East Rally Championship website http://merc-fia.com/
Previous Dubai International Rally Winners
| Dubai International Rally 1997 | Mohammed Ben Sulayem (ARE) / Ronan Morgan (IRL) | (Ford Escort RS Cosworth) |
| Dubai International Rally 1998 | Mohammed Ben Sulayem (ARE) / Ronan Morgan (IRL) | (Ford Escort Cosworth WRC) |
| Dubai International Rally 1999 | Mohammed Ben Sulayem (ARE) / Ronan Morgan (IRL) | (Ford Focus WRC) |
| Dubai International Rally 2000 | Mohammed Ben Sulayem (ARE) / Ronan Morgan (IRL) | (Ford Focus WRC) |
| Dubai International Rally 2001 | Mohammed Ben Sulayem (ARE) / Khaled Zakaria (JOR) | (Ford Focus WRC) |
| Dubai International Rally 2002 | Mohammed Ben Sulayem (UAE) / John Spiller (GB) | (Ford Focus WRC) |
| Dubai International Rally 2003 | Nasser Al Attiyah (QAT) / Steve Lancaster (GBR) | (Subaru Impreza WRC) |
| Dubai International Rally 2004 | Nasser Al Attiyah (QAT) / Chris Patterson (GBR) | (Subaru Impreza STI) |
| Dubai International Rally 2005 | Shk. Khaled Al Qassimi (ARE) / Nick Beech (GBR) | (Subaru Impreza WRX) |
| Dubai International Rally 2006 | Shk. Khaled Al Qassimi (ARE) / Nick Beech (GBR) | (Subaru Impreza WRX) |
| Dubai International Rally 2007 | Nasser Al Attiyah (QAT) / Chris Patterson (GBR) | (Subaru Impreza) |
| Dubai International Rally 2008 | Nasser Al Attiyah (QAT) / Chris Patterson (GBR) | (Subaru Impreza) |
| Dubai International Rally 2009 | Nasser Al Attiyah (QAT) / Giovanni Bernacchini (ITA |
Previous FIA Middle East Rally Championship Winners
| 2009 | Qatar Nasser Al-Attiyah | Subaru Impreza WRX STI N15/Mitsubishi Evo 10 |
| 2008 | Qatar Nasser Al-Attiyah | Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
| 2007 | Qatar Nasser Al-Attiyah | Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
| 2006 | Qatar Nasser Al-Attiyah | Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
| 2005 | Qatar Nasser Al-Attiyah | Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
| 2004 | United Arab Emirates Khalid Al-Qassimi | Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
| 2003 | Qatar Nasser Al-Attiyah | Subaru Impreza WRC |
| 2002 | United Arab Emirates Mohammed Bin Sulayem | Ford Focus WRC |
| 2001 | United Arab Emirates Mohammed Bin Sulayem | Ford Focus WRC |
| 2000 | United Arab Emirates Mohammed Bin Sulayem | Ford Focus WRC |
| 1999 | United Arab Emirates Mohammed Bin Sulayem | Ford Focus WRC |
| 1998 | United Arab Emirates Mohammed Bin Sulayem | Ford Escort WRC |
| 1997 | United Arab Emirates Mohammed Bin Sulayem | Ford Escort RS Cosworth |
| 1996 | United Arab Emirates Mohammed Bin Sulayem | Ford Escort RS Cosworth |
| 1995 | United Arab Emirates Mohammed Bin Sulayem | Ford Escort RS Cosworth |
| 1994 | United Arab Emirates Mohammed Bin Sulayem | Ford Escort RS Cosworth |
| 1993 | United Arab Emirates Mohammed Bin Sulayem | Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 |
| 1992 | United Arab Emirates Mohammed Bin Sulayem | Lancia Delta HF Integrale/Ford Sierra RS Cosworth |
| 1991 | United Arab Emirates Mohammed Bin Sulayem | Toyota Celica GT-Four |
| 1990 | United Arab Emirates Mohammed Bin Sulayem | Toyota Celica GT-Four |
| 1989 | United Arab Emirates Mohammed Bin Sulayem | Toyota Celica GT-Four |
| 1988 | United Arab Emirates Mohammed Bin Sulayem | Toyota Celica Turbo |
| 1987 | United Arab Emirates Mohammed Bin Sulayem | Toyota Celica Turbo |
| 1986 | United Arab Emirates Mohammed Bin Sulayem | Toyota Celica Turbo |
| 1985 | United Arab Emirates Mohammed Bin Sulayem | Porsche 911 SC RS |
| 1984 | United Arab Emirates Mohammed Bin Sulayem | Porsche 911 SC RS |
