Qatar's Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah remains on course to make history by becoming the first Arab driver ever to win two FIA international rally titles in the same year.

The Qatari completed the first eight special stages of the opening leg of the Syrian International Rally, 45 seconds ahead of second-placed Shaikh Khalid Al Qasimi of the UAE as he bids to clinch a second FIA Middle East Rally Championship title in three years.

Qatar's Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah manoeuvres his Subaru Impreza at the Syrian International Rally in Sednaya. Al Attiyah is firmly in the saddle to emerge the first Arab driver to win two FIA international rally titles in the same year.

Al Attiyah and his Ulster co-driver Chris Patterson are also in strong contention to win this year's prestigious FIA Production World Rally Championship with a mere three events remaining in Wales, Japan and Australia.

The first Arab driver to achieve the feat was Dubai's Khalifa Al Mutaiwei, who clinched the 2004 FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup Drivers' Championship in Argentina last November.

"It was not a day to take risks," said Al Attiyah, who had been a mere 14 seconds ahead of defending champion Shaikh Khalid after five timed sections.

"The tracks were rough, twisty and quite technical and the priority was to avoid a puncture and risk damaging the car. Khalid drove well in the opening stages. I was sure I had something in reserve. I pushed a little harder this afternoon, but winning the championship has to be my priority."

In third place behind Shaikh Khalid and 4min 49secs behind Al Attiyah was Shaikh Abdullah Al Qasimi. "I have been much happier with the Mitsubishi this week," said the former Group N regional champion. "My team in the UAE has worked hard on the engine and the transmission, but we still need to set the differentials to suit this terrain. I felt as though the car was trying to step out of line in tight corners and my shoulders were aching all day."

Top 5 positions after SS7 (unofficial):

1. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QA)/ Chris Patterson (GB) Subaru Impreza WRX STi 1h 13m 51s;

2. Shaikh Khalid Al-Qasimi (UAE)/ Nicky Beech (GB) Subaru Impreza WRX STi 1h 14m 35s;

3. Shaikh Abdullah Al Qasimi (UAE)/ Steve Lancaster (GB) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 1h 18m 23s;

4. Haitham Al-Yousifi (SYR)/ Adel Hussain (QA) Subaru Impreza WRX STi 1h 18m 32s;

5. Amjad Farrah (HKJ)/ Khalid Zakaria (HKJ) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 1h 19m 17s.