Mohammed bin Sulayem took complete control in the Dubai International Rally yesterday as Sheikh Abdullah Al Qassimi edged his way towards his second Middle East title in the final round of this year's FIA regional series.

Already installed as outright Middle East champion for the 12th time, Sulayem powered his Ford Focus World Rally Car into a lead of five minutes 22 seconds over the first leg, winning all seven special stages, and is well on course to win his home event for the 13th time in 16 years.

Promoted to second place when fellow-UAE driver Raed Baker collected late time penalties, Al Qasimi made a positive move towards his second Middle East Group N title in three years in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 6.

He was, however, just 52 seconds ahead of the defending Group N champion, Nizar Al Shanfari in third position, and must keep him at bay on the second leg if he is to snatch the title away from the Omani.

Baker had climbed impressively to second place in his Toyota Celica GT-4, but collected two minutes 50 seconds of time penalties, and dropped to fourth, when his mechanics were forced to change the car's clutch at the final service point after it broke on the last stage of the day.

While Sulayem was again in a class of his own, and Baker again displayed the form which should take him to his first UAE national title, Shanfari could not prevent Al Qasimi taking the upper hand in Group N. The Omani complained that the substitute car he is driving is not nearly as competitive as the Mitsubishi which was delayed by a shipping mix-up en route from last month's Troodos Rally in Cyprus. But he was battling hard, and clearly still in the title hunt.

Despite a succession of punctures, and time penalties, Lebanese driver Michel Saleh held fifth spot in the Toyota he took to second place last year, with British-based Chris Armeftis completing the top six, followed by Bahrain's Sheikh Jaber Al Khalifa, on his first attempt in Dubai.

Jordan lady driver Nancy Al Majali became the day's first casualty when she was forced to retire her Group N Ford Sierra before the start because of a cracked cylinder head, but she will return to the UAE for the opening round of next year's championship in Abu Dhabi in two months time.

There was no luck either for the second Jordanian lady driver, Randa Nabulsi, who went out on the third stage when her Group N Ford Fiesta overheated. Australian Ron Cremen made his exit at the end of the first stage, a broken shock absorber halting the Group A Mitsubishi Galant he had loaned when his Group N car failed to arrive by ship.

UAE-based Cypriot driver Nicolas Mandrides went out of the rally on the fourth stage when his car's turbo blew, and on the same stage, Germany's Karl-Heinz Lerch rolled his Audi, although driver and co-driver were unhurt. Two stages later, Kuwait's Mohammed Al Sarraf joined the casualty list after a collision with a spectator car, although there were no injuries.

Held under the patronage of Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation, and sponsored by Dubai Ports Authority and Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority, the Dubai International Rally is rounding off a seven-event Middle East championship, which began in Abu Dhabi in February.

The cars were flagged away from the start at the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel by visiting Jordanian Minister of Tourism, Akel Biltaji, and Mohammed bin Bakheet, president of the rally organising committee of the Automobile and Touring Club for the UAE, the national motor sport authority.

Seven more special stages remain on the second leg today, before the first car reaches the finish at the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel at 5.30 pm. Motor sport enthusiasts can keep up with developments by visiting the rally web site at:http://www.atcuae.com/dxbrally

Provisional leading positions after seven special stages:
1. M. bin Sulayem / R. Morgan (UAE/IRL) Ford Focus WRC (A) 1:15:31; 2. A. Al Qassimi / G. Khoury (UAE/UAE) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V (N) 1:20:53; 3. N. Al Shanfari / M. Makhalakis (OM/CY) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 (N) 1:21:45; 4. R. Baker / N. Ahmedi (UAE/UAE) Toyota Celica GT4 (A) 1:23:07; 5. M. Saleh / K. Zakaria (RL/HKJ) Toyota Celica GT4 (A) 1:23:55; 6. C. Armeftis / J.Charalambos (GB/CY) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI (N) 1:28:12; 7. J. Al Khalifa / T. Harriman (BAH/GB) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI (N) 1:31:18; 8. S. Fadhel / I. Nabhan (UAE/UAE) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI (N) 1:31:56; 9. A. Al Saban / M. Al Hajri (SA/QT) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI (N) 1;32:29; 10. H. Al Sadadi / H. Al Jabri (BAH/OM) Subaru WRX (N) 1:33:17.