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Abdullah hot favourite to win Sharjah Rally
The Mobil 1 Nikon team of Shaikh Abdullah Al Qasimi and Gaby Khoury will start as favourites in this weekend's Sharjah Rally.
- Staff Report
- Published: 01:15 February 21, 2008
Dubai: The Mobil 1 Nikon team of Shaikh Abdullah Al Qasimi and Gaby Khoury will start as favourites in this weekend's Sharjah Rally.
The event - held under the patronage of Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah - is the second round of the 2008 UAE Rally Championship.
The two-day rally for saloon cars - organised by the Emirates Motor Sports Federation - has attracted a field of 10 and Shaikh Abdullah and Khoury are expected to successfully defend the rally they won last year.
One of the main absentees will be former winner and Shaikh Abdullah's younger brother, Shaikh Khalid. He has decided to skip the race due to his commitments with the Abu Dhabi-backed BP-Ford WRC Team for the World Rally Championship.
However, Shaikh Khalid is expected to be around to help former colleagues from Team Abu Dhabi who have fielded four drivers for the event.
Team Abu Dhabi boast an impressive line-up of local and international drivers, including Sultan Al Ameri/Allan Harryman; Bader Al Jabri/Tim Ansell; Khalil Al Shaikh/Dale Moscatt and Rashid Al Shamsi/Killian Duffy, all in Ford Fiestas.
Shaikh Abdullah can also expect a stiff challenge from the seasoned Michel Saleh - sponsored by City of Arabia - who has just returned from last week's Hail Baja Rally in Saudi Arabia.
Also posing a threat will be the duos of Yahya Al Ameri and Ali Mirza, along with David Mabbs and Bryan Lightford for Icon Racing.
Ron Oakley (EMCO Performance) and Simon Nutter, both yet to name co-drivers, complete the field.
One of the main absentees will be former winner and Shaikh Abdullah's younger brother, Shaikh Khalid.
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