Abu Dhabi: Shaikh Khalid Al Qasimi seized an early lead on Thursday night in the first Abu Dhabi Rally, a candidate event for next year’s FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC), by going fastest in the initial spectator stage at the North Handling area of Yas Marina Circuit.
He clocked 2mins, 50.4s over the 3.5-kilometre, three-lap asphalt lap at the home of the Etihad Airways Formula One Grand Prix, with him and his fellow Abu Dhabi Racing teammates occupying the top-four places.
Junior driver Mohammad Al Mutawaa was second, 2.6 seconds behind Shaikh Khalid, while Mohammad Al Sahlawi was 4.3 seconds off the lead in third.
Shaikh Khalid said: “I very much enjoyed the stage tonight, as it was a good spectacle. I was also very pleased with the performance of the juniors, as I felt they showed great maturity and I hope this will continue on the gravel stages.”
The second day of the rally on Friday was due to consist of eight special stages held on gravel roads.
The competitors were then due to go back to the Service Park at the Rally headquarters at Yas Marina Circuit after the first loop and then resume the same stages. The rally was jointly organised by Abu Dhabi Racing and Yas Motor Racing Club.
Shaikh Khalid shot to prominence in 2002, when he won the Group N title in the Middle East Rally Championship.
He is currently second in the MERC table and is participating in selected World Rally Championship rounds with the Citroen Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team.
