Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi will lead a five-car Abu Dhabi Racing team when he returns to his happy hunting ground at Rally Oman, a trial event for the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC), this weekend and look to build on the victory he last secured in the Sultanate in 2007.
Abu Dhabi Racing are part of 24 cars registered to take the start line this weekend, and Sheikh Khalid, fresh from his final WRC campaign in Spain, faces a stiff challenge.
Among those who will challenge the Abu Dhabi resident for top honours are his brother Sheikh Abdullah, the Qatari trio of Abdulaziz and Abdulla Al Kuwari, and Khalifa Saleh Al Attiyah.
Sheikh Khalid will also be challenged by local stars Khalid Al Minji and Faisal Al Rashdi, who have the advantage of racing in familiar surroundings on home soil.
However, Sheikh Khalid is not new to the terrain having won the event in 2007, the last time Oman hosted a round of the MERC.
Sheikh Khalid, who recently won the Abu Dhabi trial event, said: “I am really looking forward to the weekend and I wish everyone the best of luck.
“In Oman, many factors will have to be taken into account. After winning in Abu Dhabi I travelled directly to Spain and now we are heading to Oman.
“The terrain in Oman is totally different to Abu Dhabi and Spain, so we have a lot of work to do on the car’s set up.”
The ADR lead driver added: “My aim in Oman is to win, but I also would like to see our junior team perform well.
“It will be important for them to have patience and complete the rally. In doing so, they will gain many miles of valuable experience.”
Racing in 2WD Citroen DS3 R3s, ADR junior drivers Mohamed Al Mutawaa, Saeed Bintouq, Juma Al Falasi and Mansoor Belhelei will look to impress in Oman.
Rally Oman is being organised ahead of the Sultanate’s possible inclusion as a round of the MERC in 2015, along with the UAE and Shiraz in Iran.
The possible inclusion of these three rallies for the new season in 2015 would expand the regional championship from the current six to a total of nine rounds.
The 172.8km long rally will be run over 13 Special Stages spread over three days, from October 30 to November 1.
A 3.54km Spectator Stage will be held today (Thursday), while the following two days will consist of six stages each totalling 83.86km and 85.4km respectively.
Following the conclusion of the weekend’s trial event, the UAE, Iran and the Sultanate will have to wait until December 3, when the FIA’s annual general assembly meets in Doha, to find out if they have made the cut for 2015.
