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UAE speedster gears up for rough Rally Germany
With Rally Germany - round ten in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) - starting today, BP-Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team's Shaikh Khalid Al Qasimi has said the notoriously unpredictable Trier weather could well determine his success this weekend.
- Staff Report
- Published: 23:01 August 14, 2008
Trier, Germany: With Rally Germany - round ten in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) - starting today, BP-Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team's Shaikh Khalid Al Qasimi has said the notoriously unpredictable Trier weather could well determine his success this weekend.
The driver's first asphalt event since rally one in Monte Carlo eight months ago, Rally Germany is set to be further complicated by a weather forecast of downpours throughout the three competitive days.
With heavy rainfall making the event's wide variety of sealed surfaces tough to predict, Al Qasimi revealed Rally Germany will test his driving skills throughout.
"This will be a real test of my ability," said the UAE driver. "It's a huge battle for me, against the other drivers, the stages, the weather and even myself. The rain will make things very difficult and it will be easy to get downhearted - I must remember to stay bright and optimistic, even if the weather is not.
"The rainy forecast means the stages will be wet for the event but for the testing it's been dry, so it is very difficult to get the feel for the car - especially since it is eight months since I drove on tarmac," Al Qasimi added.
Covering all elements
Today's race passes through narrow and dirty vineyard access roads around the Mosel River and tomorrow's leg two stages are held on the rough concrete roads of the Baumholder military ranges. The final day, featuring some of the fastest tarmac rally stages in Europe, are made up of smooth, quick, bitumen-coated roads.
With heavy rainfall making the event's wide variety of sealed surfaces tough to predict, Al Qasimi revealed Rally Germany will test his driving skills throughout.
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