It has already been a good year for Nasser Al Attiyah, but it can get even better this weekend with victory in the Dubai International Rally.
The Qatari, who won the Dakar Rally in January, dominated the Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) with four wins from five events to put himself in a strong position to win the title for a seventh time. Now he is close to signing a deal to drive a Citroen in the World Rally Championship (WRC) next year.
That, by anyone's standards, is a strong 12 months, and Al Attiyah wants to finish it with a flourish by triumphing in Dubai in his Ford Fiesta.
"It has been a great year for me, and to win here, [and] to take the championship that way, would be fantastic," the 40 year old said.
"We have two ways of taking the title. Finishing in the top seven will be enough for me, but I would prefer to take it by winning, and that is what I am aiming to do."
Al Attiyah, who missed out on taking the title last year by four points to Misfer Al Marri, has a strong pedigree in Dubai, having won the event six times in the past, and has not been beaten there since 2006, making his combination with Giovanni Bernacchini, his Italian co-driver, a strong favourite when the action starts today .
"There is no secret," he said when asked about his success in Dubai. "I always prepare hard for each event and am ready physically and mentally. I like driving here, and it is like Qatar where, since 2003, I have won nine times, and it is kind of a similar feeling here as I do feel comfortable in these conditions.
"The stages are sandy and more fast [than on other rounds of the MERC] and I enjoy those conditions."
A seventh championship will be a sweet feeling for Al Attiyah, but becoming the first Arab winner of the Dakar Rally, held in Argentina and Chile where he took the title in the cars category of the gruelling 9,618 kilometre event by more than 49 minutes from Giniel de Villiers, was the catalyst for his best year in the sport.
"It was a dream to win Dakar, and to do it and be the first Arab to win it was fantastic," he said.
"It gave me a lot of confidence."
Al Attiyah is hoping to take his excellent form to the WRC next year.
Talks are on-going with the Citroen team on a deal that would see him drive a third car for the French manufacturers alongside Sebastien Loeb, the eight-time world champion, and Mikko Hirvonen, who will race for the team in 2012 after joining them from Abu Dhabi Ford, the team for whom he finished second in this year's drivers' championship.
"I am quite hopeful of this," he said. "I am working very hard for this option. I have a good link with the team and we are pushing for this to happen."
But all attention today and tomorrow will be on the challenging roads around Dubai.
The event began with the ceremonial opening stage last night, but the 800km action starts this morning with the first of six stages today, in the Malaiha and Shawka area.
The final six stages take place tomorrow in the Al Dhaid region, with the ceremonial finish taking place at Emaar Boulevard in Dubai Old Town, at 4.30pm.
AL KETBI OUT FOR A MEMORABLE NATIONAL DAY
He may need fortune to smile on him to win the MERC, but Rashid Al Ketbi is hoping to add a victory in the Dubai International Rally to the UAE’s National Day Celebrations.
The Emirati must win the rally, which starts Friday, and hope that Al Attiyah finishes no higher than eighth if he is to win his first MERC title.
“This is a very important event for me because it is my home rally, and it’s my dream to win it on UAE National Day weekend,” said Al Ketbi.
“I am ready for the challenge and will be going for the win. It will be a big fight between myself and Nasser.”
gcaygill@thenational.ae
@ For more MOTORSPORT visit thenational.ae/topics
Skoda Superb Specs
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Tips to keep your car cool
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Draw:
Group A: Egypt, DR Congo, Uganda, Zimbabwe
Group B: Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi
Group C: Senegal, Algeria, Kenya, Tanzania
Group D: Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Namibia
Group E: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Angola
Group F: Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Guinea-Bissau
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Match info:
Leicester City 1
Ghezzal (63')
Liverpool 2
Mane (10'), Firmino (45')
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Celta Vigo v Villarreal (midnight kick-off UAE)
Saturday Sevilla v Real Sociedad (4pm), Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao (7.15pm), Granada v Barcelona (9.30pm), Osasuna v Real Madrid (midnight)
Sunday Levante v Eibar (4pm), Cadiz v Alaves (7.15pm), Elche v Getafe (9.30pm), Real Valladolid v Valencia (midnight)
Monday Huesca v Real Betis (midnight)
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
'THE WORST THING YOU CAN EAT'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
ENGLAND TEAM
England (15-1)
George Furbank; Jonny May, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell (capt), Elliot Daly; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Courtney Lawes; Charlie Ewels, Maro Itoje; Kyle Sinckler, Jamie George, Joe Marler
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, George Kruis, Lewis Ludlam, Willi Heinz, Ollie Devoto, Jonathan Joseph
Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate
Plan to boost public schools
A major shake-up of government-run schools was rolled out across the country in 2017. Known as the Emirati School Model, it placed more emphasis on maths and science while also adding practical skills to the curriculum.
It was accompanied by the promise of a Dh5 billion investment, over six years, to pay for state-of-the-art infrastructure improvements.
Aspects of the school model will be extended to international private schools, the education minister has previously suggested.
Recent developments have also included the introduction of moral education - which public and private schools both must teach - along with reform of the exams system and tougher teacher licensing requirements.
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JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Directed by: Shaka King
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons
Four stars
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: SimpliFi
Started: August 2021
Founder: Ali Sattar
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Industry: Finance, technology
Investors: 4DX, Rally Cap, Raed, Global Founders, Sukna and individuals
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
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Engine: 3.7-litre V6
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Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
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HEADLINE HERE
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Fixtures
Friday Leganes v Alaves, 10.15pm; Valencia v Las Palmas, 12.15am
Saturday Celta Vigo v Real Sociedad, 8.15pm; Girona v Atletico Madrid, 10.15pm; Sevilla v Espanyol, 12.15am
Sunday Athletic Bilbao v Getafe, 8.15am; Barcelona v Real Betis, 10.15pm; Deportivo v Real Madrid, 12.15am
Monday Levante v Villarreal, 10.15pm; Malaga v Eibar, midnight
