Nasser Al-Attiyah guns for his seventh Dubai International Rally victory after a strong opening day against former event winner Khalid Al Qassimi.
[Not a valid template]As many expected of the six-time event winner, Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah currently heads the 2013 Dubai International Rally in the Ford Fiesta RRC after the opening stages.
After a strong opening showing from the former Dakar Rally winner (partnered this weekend by co-driver Giovanni Bernacchini), Al-Attiyah currently holds a 29.7 second lead over nearest rival Khalid Al Qassimi in the Abu Dhabi Citroen Total WRT DS3 RRC. By the end of the opening stage, the Emirati – who last took victory on the Dubai International Rally in 2006 – trailed Al-Attiyah by 4.9 seconds, an advantage which had extended to 22.6 seconds come the close of stage five. A time penalty, applied for jumping the start, gave Al Qassimi further woe before the end of the day.
Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed Al Rajhi currently holds third spot in Yazeed Racing Ford Fiesta RRC alongside Michael Orr. In a close fight for second overall, Al Rajhi trails Al Qassimi by just two seconds, while Misfer Almarri in fourth and Abdullah Al Qassimini in fifth all lie within just a second.
Rashid Al Ketbi ‘s charge on home turf however came to a premature end on stage four, the Emirati’s Skydive Dubai Ford Fiesta RRC succumbing to mechanical gremlins.
– FULL GALLERY OF SHOTS AVAILABLE HERE – CLICK – Shots courtesy of David Benson
