Dubai: Last year's FIA Middle East rally champion Shaikh Khalid Al Qasimi has pledged to push as hard as he can at this weekend's Dubai International Rally in an effort to cap his one-year reign as regional champion in winning style.
The two-day event is being held under the patronage of Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman of the Emirates Group, on December 1-2.
Shaikh Khalid clinched the series in Dubai last December with Ulster co-driver Michael Orr after a season-long battle with Qatar's Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah.
He won events outright in Bahrain and Syria on his way to a maiden title, but Al Attiyah has benefited from Al Qasimi's misfortune on several events this year to sweep to a second title in three seasons in record time.
Shaikh Khalid is not phased by his rival's recent record. "The organisers have made some changes to the route and I think that they are very positive," Shaikh Khalid noted.
"I am looking forward to the event. It will be quite a a battle out there, but I am ready for it. My recent record in the Dubai Rally has not been good. I have taken part four times and only finished twice and one of those retirements was a bad crash. Maybe I am cursed on this rally."
While Shaikh Khalid and his British co-driver Nicky Beech prepare for their second event together this season they finished second overall in Syria in September on their first rally Shaikh Khalid's brother Shaikh Abdullah lost his battle against time to be fit for the official start at the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel on Thursday.
"I carried out quite a bit of testing last week to get ready for the rally and I damaged a chest muscle and shoulder," Shaikh Abdullah said from hospital.
Racing against time
Meanwhile, Shaikh Suhail Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum was racing against time. Currently lying third in the Drivers' Championship, the UAE driver had hoped to use a new car in the Dubai Rally, but this was not ready and he was contemplating switching to an older practice car.
This weekend's Dubai International Rally has further support from Emirates Petroleum Production Company (TASJEEL), the Rehab Rotana Hotel and Al Jumeirah Rotana Hotel, Gulf Commercial Group, Emirates Computers, Sky Electronics, AMD and GTS.
Hoping for the best
Defending FIA Middle East Champion Shaikh Khalid Al Qasimi will be hoping for a solid performance to capture
glory when the Dubai International Rally is held this weekend.