Khalid, Abdullah striking top form at the right time

Sharjah's Sheikh Abdullah Al Qasimi and his brother Sheikh Khalid will be among the 48 drivers from 10 countries taking part in the Jordan International Rally starting today.

The drivers have all spent the last three days checking the challenging route through the remotest regions of the Hashemite Kingdom, and Sheikh Khalid was lucky to survive a horrific crash in his test car on a narrow hill late on Monday.

"I've just about come to terms with this misfortune," Sheikh Khalid told Gulf News from the outskirts of Amman as he waited for help to come and pick him up and retrive the wreckage.

"The crash was quite bad. But it could have been worse. I'm lucky, so that I can make a charge in the Group N," Sheikh Khalid added.

Sheikh Khalid's brother, Sheikh Abdullah is the only other participant from the UAE at the rally competing. The international event - the third round of the 2003 FIA Middle East Rally Championship - will start off today with a timed Marlboro-sponsored 2.35 kms super special stage, near Amman.

Rally officials at the Royal Automobile Club of Jordan have laid on a challenging route this year. The rally was switched from its usual May date because of the Iraq War.

The meat of the competitive action begins tomorrow morning after the first service at Baalbaki when teams tackle a 15 kms test at Khan Zbeib, south of Amman, and a punishing 14 kms section at Basiliyeh.

"Both of us have been running against the clock to get a feel of the route and check our cars," Sheikh Khalid added.

Boosting the entry list is Saudi Arabia driver, Abdullah Bakhashab, who wants to be in the points after pulling out midway from the first two rounds.

"It's a must finish rally for me," said Bakhashab. "I am determined to win the title this year, but I badly need to take a top result," Bakhashab added.

Overall positions
FIA Middle East Rally Championship overall positions after Round 2 of 6: Sheikh Abdullah Al Qasimi (UAE) 11 pts; Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah (Qatar) and Roger Feghali (Lebanon) 10; Abdo Feghali (Lebanon) 8; Justin Dale (GB) and Rodrigue Rahi (Lebanon) 6.

Group N: 1. Justin Dale (GB) and Sheikh Abdullah Al Qasimi (UAE) 10; Abdulaziz Al Kuwari (Qatar) and Elan (Lebanon) 8; Craig Johnson (GB) and Sheikh Khalid Al Qasimi (UAE) 6; Abdullah Al Rabban (Qatar) and Toni Abdel Hak (Lebanon) 5.