The FIA’s International Court of Appeal (ICA) has listed an application filed by Sven Quandt on behalf of Nasser Al Attiyah challenging the Qatari’s exclusion from results of the 2015 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge for hearing on June 5 next month.
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The Challenge was the second round of the ongoing FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies and was held from March 26-April 2. Al Attiyah, who is currently second overall in the championship, had competed in the eight-day, 2,000km event in an ALL4 Mini prepared by Quandt’s X-raid Team and had led for most part of the Challenge, eventually winning the endurance.
However, following post-race scrutineering, stewards appointed by the FIA ruled that Al Attiyah had infringed upon the rules after noticing that the “suspension-travel” of the Mini “was too big” and did not conform with the rally regulations.
We know who started the #sandstorm @AlAttiyahN @AD_DsrtChallnG #Qatar #GivesYouWings pic.twitter.com/Z4nBb7QDHz
— Red Bull Qatar (@RedBullQatar) April 1, 2015
Following a meeting, the stewards ruled that Al Attiyah had contravened the rally regulations as stipulated by the FIA and informed the Qatari that he had been excluded from the final results.
The three stewards were Fred Gallagher (GBR) as chairman, FIA steward Manjeev Singh Bhalla (IND) and local ASN steward Adel Sarris (UAE).
The decision of the stewards came as a huge blow for the Qatari because it meant Al Attiyah would no longer score double the points, 60, that were on offer, which would have catapulted him to the top of the championship standings and place him in contention for a second World Cup title. Al Attiyah had won the prestigious championship first in 2008 behind the wheel of a BMW.
Movie: Nasser Al Attiyah Team – Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2015: Nasser Al Attiyah Team – Abu Dhabi… http://t.co/JNYebKQ7R0 #dakar2015
— Dakar Magazine (@dakarpress) April 4, 2015
After Al Attiyah was excluded from the results, the win was automatically handed over to Russian Vladimir Vasilyev, the current leader of the championship, while Erik Van Loon of the Netherlands was promoted to third.
The Qatari then informed the stewards that he would be filing an appeal before the FIA’s ICA given that the Challenge is an international event and that the ICA was the proper forum to address his grievances.
As required under the rules, Quandt, who is X-raid Team director, filed an application on behalf of Al Attiyah before the ICA within 96 hours, on April 6. Al Attiyah was required to pay a deposit of €6,000 (Dh24,252) at the time of filing the appeal, and should the court find his application to be frivolous, the Qatari faces a fine of up to €150,000 (Dhs606,300).
Nasser Al Attiyah Team – Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2015 – Leg III http://t.co/r7Yc0IY4NU
— René Serrano (@RallySp0rts) March 31, 2015
While the ICA has notified the date of the hearing, which will take place at 09:30 on June 5 in Paris, the court has not disclosed the names of the three-member panel that will deal with the application.
Of the three members, one will be nominated as ‘President of the Hearing’, and any decision will be by simple majority. In the event the decision is tied, the ‘President of the Hearing’ will exercise his vote.
The ICA comprises of 24 members elected for a period of three years. Of these, one is president, one is vice president and the remaining 22 are members.
