Qatar's Al Attiyah aiming for unique rally championship treble

Dubai: Nasser Al Attiyah is hoping to do what no Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) driver has ever done before and clinch a rallying championship treble.

Al Attiyah, who has already won the FIA Cup for Cross Country Bajas, is a firm favourite for the FIA Middle East Rally Championship where he has a 15-point lead over his nearest rival.

The Qatari driver is also in line for the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup crown, which he could secure next week as long as he successfully completes the UAE Desert Challenge.

Al Attiyah has 11 points and currently sits in fourth place in the drivers' championship, four points adrift of the leading trio of Luc Alphand, Giniel de Villers and Dominique Housieaux.

Points finish

But with Alphand, de Villers and Housieaux, staying away from the UAE, the last stop on this year's championship, all Al Attiyah needs to do is finish the rally among the points.

The 37-year-old has more than just the title on his mind. He is hoping to end the dominance of Western drivers in the six-day 2,197km event and become the first Arab driver to win the race since compatriot Saeed Al Hajri's famous victory in 1993.

Al Attiyah, who will today test his prototype BMW X3 in the dunes near Hatta, said: "I think we have a very good chance of winning the Challenge. We finished second in the Transiberico rally and I just have a very good feeling going into this race.

"We have a new car that is being developed for the Dakar Rally, but it will race for the first time in the UAE.

"The Desert Challenge is a difficult race, but I'm sure we can win it. I want to achieve what Saeed did all those years ago and if I can do that I'm confident I will be able to finish the season with three titles.

"No other driver has done that before and it would be great if an Arab can achieve the feat."

Al Attiyah, who will be alongside Swede co-driver Tina Thorner, was close to clinching victory in the UAE last year, but mechanical problems forced him into second, behind Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel.

"We were unlucky last year, but I'm very happy with the way the car is responding," said Al Attiyah.

Desert

Safety first in UAE race

The UAE Desert Challenge, which rounds off the international cross country rally calendar next week, will be the safest ever, according to two members of the operations team.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Sean Petherbridge and Gus Duthie, head of Search and Rescue, oversee a squad of 21 volunteers, who will play vital roles as the rally unfolds across some of the region's most punishing desert terrain.

With more than 160 drivers and riders from 36 countries going into action, Mohammad Ben Sulayem, President of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE, has taken steps to ensure competitor safety remains a top priority.

- Staff report