Dubai: Shaikh Abdullah Al Qasimi will start today's Prologue stage of the Abu Dhabi Rally as firm favourite in the absence of younger brother Shaikh Khalid.
A good outing in the national capital this weekend will bring Shaikh Abdullah a step closer to the championship title.
Shaikh Abdullah, who finished second to his brother last year in Abu Dhabi, currently leads the Saloon Class of the National Rally Championship, having collected another 10 points with a triumph in Sharjah on Wednesday.
The Abu Dhabi Rally, the fourth round of the National Championship and the second round in the Saloon Class, is being held under the patronage of General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
Hectic schedule
The event officially began last night, with scrutineering of vehicles undertaken by Chief Scrutineer Terry Plant and his assistant Ali Al Mansouri at AAA Dubai.
Shaikh Khalid is unable to participate in local championships this year given his hectic schedule and commitment to the BP-Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team.
However, the younger Al Qasimi has not abandoned his former local team, Team Abu Dhabi, and makes it a point to be around to offer helpful tips whenever he is not busy with his international commitments.
Shaikh Khalid's availability notwithstanding, Shaikh Abdullah is likely to face some stiff challenge from Yahya Al Ameri/Ali Mirza and David Mabbs/Bryan Lightford who finished second and third respectively in Sharjah.
However, both Shaikh Abdullah and Mabbs are yet to decide on a co-driver for this rally.
Others in the fray are Rashid Al Ketbi, Ron Oakeley with co-driver Mark Turner, Simon Nutter and Patrick McMurren, Majid Al Shamsi and Allan Harryman and Mansour Al Suwaidi and Killian Duffy.
Abu Dhabi's Marina Mall will be a hub of activity from this afternoon until tomorrow evening.
The Spectators' Stage will be held next to the mall on a specially designed 1.8km course today, while the start and finish will be directly in front of Marina Mall.
There will be a total of seven special stages, including the prologue, and eight road sections covering a total distance of 323 kilometres.
