Bakhashab sets fresh goals

Saudi Marlboro Rally Team driver Abdullah Bakhashab is set to revise his strategy as he returns to challenge for the Middle East title where he will rely on two World Championship events for a confidence boost.

Bakhashab has made the Middle East title his No.1 target after the FIA discontinued the Teams Cup, and his quest for glory has been fuelled by a history-making sixth place overall in the World Rally Championship two years ago.

The 33-year-old Saudi driver, who interestingly scored his first major success in the 1992 Dubai International Rally, will compete in Acropolis Rally in Greece from June 14-16 before he turns his attention to the Middle East Championship where he will contest five rallies, starting with the Marlboro Rally of Lebanon from July 4-7.

"My goal is to win the Middle East title," he told Gulf News from Saudi Arabia yesterday. "That's my new focus. Obviously to do that I have to beat Mohammed bin Sulayem, who is a rally giant in the region. Mohammed has a lot of experience but I will give him a hard time.

"Even if I don't win I will push him till the end. However, I think I have what it takes to win, it might not happen this season, but it will happen sooner or later," he added.

"I've been away for four years so I think I need some time to adapt to the rallying conditions in the Middle East."

Bakhashab holds a healthy respect for Bin Sulayem but he asserts he can beat him.

"Mohammed is very experienced. The knowledge that he has gained over the past 11 years definitely gives him the upper hand," he admits. "But I think I've learnt a lot as well and I'm a lot more confident. I just have to adapt to a new challenge. Anyway the Middle East circuit is much easier than the World Championship, so that's a bit of a relief."

Bakhashab indicated that his Toyota World Rally Car, which has intrinsically been prepared for the World Championship, would have to be redeveloped for the Middle East where the settings are altogether different.

"The WRC car is not suitable for the Middle East, where the suspension is a key factor," explained Bakhashab. "We will have to develop it taking into consideration the terrain we will encounter, which means that we will have to raise the suspension.

"Obviously we have have to do all this on our own as Toyota have moved out of rallying and into Formula One racing."

The Saudi driver, however, is keenly looking forward to the changes he will make in his agenda, and also competing in Greece.

"The Acropolis would have to be my favourite rally," he says. "I'm really looking forward to it, especially it will be my first event in the World Rally Championship this year.

"Preparations are in full swing to ensure that the car is ready. We plan to arrive in Greece early so that we can put in some vital practice before the rally actually starts."

Bakhashab will also take in another World Rally Championship event when he competes in the SanRemo Rally from September 20-22, but his attention will remain on the Middle East Rally Championship where he is currently placed third behind bin Sulayem and Abdullah Al Qasimi.

What attribute will prove decisive?

"It's hard to say. A lot of skills will come into play during a rally," he says. "But obviously you have to have the right skills. I think competing in the world championship has made me a better driver than I was before. I have much better car control now and I'm more specific with my pace notes which is very important in rally."