The UAE's Sheikh Suhail bin Khalifa Al-Maktoum aims to turn back the clock in next week’s Dubai International Rally as he attempts to break Nasser Al Attiyah’s 100 per cent winning record in the 2006 FIA Middle East Championship.
Sheikh Suhail won the traditional last round of the regional series back in 1990, and while repeating that success 16 years on will require a huge effort, he refuses to accept that Middle East champion Al Attiyah cannot be beaten.
The Qatari has won all six previous rounds of the championship in Al Ain, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon and Cyprus, while Sheikh Suhail has been left in second place in the series after three runner-up finishes, two third spots and a disappointing seventh in Doha where he suffered mechanical problems.
“I could have done better this year but I have had some bad luck, especially in Qatar,” said Sheik Suhail, who will again be partnered by UAE co-driver Wael Murjan in a Subaru Imprezza.
“Nasser’s big advantage is that he’s a professional rally driver now and is always behind the wheel. He does two rallies a month while I might now have an event for two months. He’s a very good driver and he’s going to be hard to beat.
“But I’ll be going for it, and I’d love to win my home rally again. It will be difficult though, and there are some other drivers who could win, including Sheikh Khalid and Sheikh Abdullah Al Qassimi.”
The last of seven rounds in this year’s championship takes place from 29th November to 1st December under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation, Chairman of Emirates Group and Chairman of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise.
Organised by Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the Automobile and Touring Club for the UAE, the event enjoys the full backing of the Government of Dubai, with co-sponsorship from Nakheel, Dubai’s premier property developer, Emarat, and the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel, the official headquarters for the event.
If he can beat Al Attiyah in Dubai, Sheikh Suhail will carry a psychological advantage into the opening round of next year’s Middle East Championship in Al Ain in January.
He is currently involved in negotiations which will determine which one of two cars he will drive next year, and he expects the talks to be concluded by next week.
Following scrutineering next Wednesday (29th November), the 2006 Dubai International Rally gets underway from the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel at 9.30am the following day at the start of a 640-km route containing 14 special stages.
Leg One takes the cars through eight special stages in the Hatta area before the night halt back in Dubai. The second leg starts from the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel at 8am on Friday 1st December and features a double loop of three special stages in the Jebel Ali area separated by a service regrouping.
