Al-Attiyah Favourite but Other Qataris Aim to Beat the Legend
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GOLF | Page 4 NBA | Page 5 Garcia leads Cavs and To Advertise here as Woods Warriors win, Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 struggles Bulls thump in Dubai Thunder Friday, February 3, 2017 FOOTBALL Jumada I 6, 1438 AH Guardiola’s City rout GULF TIMES West Ham, Hull hold United to a draw SPORT Page 3 FUTURE PERFECT ‘I hope there’s another al-Attiyah from Qatar’ By Joe Koraith circuit,” said al-Attiyah yesterday. He to push himself. They need to search for “For Dakar rally I have fi xed plan Doha was speaking during the 2017 QMMF the reasons why Nasser is always win- for the next 10 years. Because I Qatar International Rally press confer- ning. It’s not a secret. They need to be believe that age is not a factor ence yesterday. clever. I have learnt from other drivers. for Dakar. What matters is the atar’s Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah “I think it’s great to see many Qatar I am not self-taught. I have watched physical and condition you are has fi rmly established him- drivers and I hope in the future there’s and learnt from the best drivers in the in,” said the 46-year-old self as a legend in the world of another Nasser al-Attiyah. I am 46 world and sometimes I used to even motorsport. Two Dakar Rally years old now. And one day I will stop follow the driver around and absorb all old and he won the title this year. This Qtitles, in itself, merits that honour. The racing but we need to have another the good things from that person,” said is because he has kept himself fi t and Qatar fl ag has been fl ying high in the driver who can continue – like Khaled al-Attiyah. strong. I will continue to participate in motorsport world because of al-Attiyah (al-Suwaidi) or Rashid (al-Naimi). This This year’s Dakar Rally turned out normally rallies and enjoy the Middle and now there are other youngsters who is our goal,” he added. to be a disappointment for al-Attiyah East Rally Championship,” he added. are shaping up well, ready to make their with his Toyota suff ering mechani- UAE’s Mohammed bin Sulayem has mark in the world. Al-Attiyah believes EXPERIENCE MATTERS cal issues and him having to withdraw won the MERC title 14 times. Al-Atti- that continued support from QMMF Al-Attiyah has won a record 63 Middle prematurely. But the Qatari informed yah has 12 so far. Breaking that record is the chief reason for Qatar produc- East Rally Championship events since that he has a decade-long plan to pur- is a key target for the Qatari. “My tar- ing more motorsport talent. “We are the start of 2003 and it’s this vast ex- sue more titles of the world’s tough- get is to break the record. I have won now seeing a lot of drivers from Qatar perience and his ability to learn from est motorsport event. “For Dakar rally the MERC title 12 times and Inshallah, coming up. Credit for that goes to the other drivers that has helped him notch I have fi xed plan for the next 10 years. I will do my best to win this year and get QMMF. I think they are the only federa- up this amazing success rate. “Experi- Because I believe that age is not a factor closer to the record. I have all the sup- tion in the world that supports drivers ence matters a lot in this sport. I have for Dakar. What matters is the physical port from the Qatar government and so much. QMMF has a good budget and 25 years of experience. I have gone for and mental condition you are in,” said QMMF and the target to win the Middle they are able to support the racers – a lot of races and that helps a lot. The the 46-year-old. East Championship,” he said. whether it is two wheels or four, rally or Qatar’s Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah during the Qatar Rally press conference yesterday. driver – like Khalid or Rashid – needs “Stephane Peterhansel is 51 years May the force be with him then. 2017 QATAR INTERNATIONAL RALLY Al-Attiyah favourite but other Qataris aim to beat the legend ‘I am very happy with the starting list, especially with the number of Qataris taking part in this edition. This is a testimony to all the eff orts that we have been putting together. This is very pleasant for us because this is what we are working for’ By Joe Koraith Quick look Doha Rally off icials have proposed 71.62km of competition for day one and that ll eyes at the QMMF Qatar consists of two runs through three International Rally will be on special stages with one remote Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah. The refuelling and no service between the 2017 edition of the QIR kicks two runs. The stages were carefully Aoff today and the Qatari rallying legend, chosen in order to avoid stony and who has won this event an incredible 13 rocky sections, which have caused times, is the clear favourite going into tyre and mechanical problems for this two-day, action-packed motor- competitors in the past. sport spectacle. But there are other Qa- tari drivers who could spring a surprise Three further special stages are this time around. planned for the second leg and re- Apart from al-Attiyah, Qatar is also mote servicing has been introduced being represented by Khaled al-Su- between the two groups of stages. A waidi and Rashid al-Naimi. This open- team of four personnel and the crew ing round of the FIA Middle East Rally only will be permitted to work on the Championship will be a good chance cars for 15 minutes and only parts for the Qatari young guns to pull a sur- carried in the rally car may be used in prise on al-Attiyah and get their year repairs, although tyre changes will be off to a great start. QMMF is happy that permitted. more Qatari drivers will be challenging for the title this year. “I am very happy The sole Ford Fiesta R5 on the with the starting list, especially with entry list is the third of the Regional the number of Qataris taking part in Rally Cars and will be crewed by the this edition. This is a testimony to all Kuwaiti pairing of Masoud al-Saleh the eff orts that we have been putting and Sulaiman al-Saleh. “My plan is together. And this is very pleasant for to drive flat out from the start,” said us because this is what we are working al-Saleh confidently at the pre-event hard for,” said QMMF president Ab- press conference. “I want to enjoy dulrahman al-Mannai during the pre- myself. I want to race against Nasser event press conference yesterday. and Khalid.” The number of participants for this year’s edition isn’t high but al-Attiyah “The rally in Qatar would not believes that the quality of competi- have been possible without the tion will make it an exciting rally. “This perennial support and guidance year we don’t have big numbers in par- of His Highness, the Emir of Qatar, ticipation but we have a high quality of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- drivers. I wish good luck to everybody Thani and His Excellency Salah bin competing in this event. Qatar Rally is Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali, Minister an important event in the Middle East. for Culture and Sports.” We will try to do our best to win this - QMMF President al-Mannai race and get a good start to the Cham- pionship,” said al-Attiyah yesterday. Qatar rally legend Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (third right), QMMF president Abdulrahman al-Mannai (centre), Qatari drivers Khaled al-Suwaidi (second right) and Rashid Today’s competitive action gets un- The biggest challenge for al-Attiyah al-Naimi (third left) and other drivers during the press conference yesterday at the Losail International Circuit. PIC: Nasar TK derway with runs through three short could come from al-Suwaidi. The Qa- special stages that are then repeated tari had taken the top spot of a MERC Rally,” said al-Suwaidi yesterday. fi rst day. On the second day there’s re- diffi cult to make that time back,” he Al-Attiyah also supported the idea in the afternoon. The Mekaines stage podium in 2012 at the Kuwait event. The other Qatari, al-Naimi has his mote servicing available. This ensures added. of doing the entire event at Losail. “I of 9.84km gets proceedings under- However, more promising for al-Su- own strategy to counter his compatri- that drivers will have to take utmost With al-Attiyah and al-Suwaidi both think it’s a good idea. The strategy of way at 11:05am and the sixth special waidi would be the second-place fi n- ots. “I will try to push as hard as I can. care not to incur any damage to the car. driving Skoda Fabia R5s, al-Naimi is QMMF is to do everything at Losail. at Umm Wishah has been arranged ish in last year’s QIR. He will be keen I am not going to use any strategy but “The changes in the regulations will confi dent that his Subaru Impreza This is a good thing for the fans because for 2:10pm. Cold, windy conditions to do one better this year.