Rashid Al Ketbi is determined to defend his home turf at the Dubai International Rally this weekend. The UAE has waited seven years for a home victory in the event, and Al Ketbi says he's certain he can be the driver to end that streak.
High expectations
“I know I can do it, and if I don’t, there will be no excuses,” says the Emirati driver, who will be partnered by German co-driver Karina Hepperle. “I’ve got a great team, a very experienced co-driver, and I’m going to give it everything. It won’t be easy, because all the other top drivers are capable of winning.”
Promising season
Al Ketbi has undertaken a nine-event World Rally Championship programme this year, finishing 10th in the WRC2 category. His best WRC2 finishes were third in France, fourth in Monte Carlo and fifth in Greece. After the Dubai Rally, Al Ketbi will begin preparing for a 10-event WRC2 programme next year.
Duel in the desert
The final round of the 2013 FIA Middle East Rally Championship has its ceremonial start at Dubai World Trade Centre at 7.30pm on Thursday, followed by two days of desert stages, before a finish at around 4.30pm back at the World Trade Centre.
Three years of hurt
The last three events have brought frustration for Al Ketbi. He crashed out in 2010 while holding second place. Twelve months later, he led the rally at the halfway point but had to settle for second as Qatar’s Nasser Al Attiyah stormed through to win. Last year, he had to settle for third as Al Attiyah won for the sixth time in a row. Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi’s second successive Dubai International Rally victory in 2006 was the last by a UAE driver.
The route
The first leg on Friday morning takes the competitors through Al Dhaid to the first loop of three special stages at Zubeidah, Al Falaj near Khadra village, and Showka, before a service regrouping. The same stages are repeated in the afternoon. The following day’s second leg features two loops of three stages at Al Dhaid (Police College), Khadra and Mileiha, all in the Al Dhaid/Mileiha area and are easily located from the Sharjah-Kalba Road or the Al Dhaid Road. The competitors then finish at Dubai World Trade Centre.
*Agency
