The Skydive Dubai Rally Team duo of Rashid Al Ketbi and Khalid Al Kendi are ready for a step into the unknown this weekend as they compete in the Giru di Corsica-Tour de Corse – the fourth round of the 2012 Intercontinental Rally Challenge [IRC].
The Emirati pair are tackling an ambitious programme of European IRC events this season in a Skoda Fabia S2000, with each event offering its own unique challenges.
The island of Corsica is one of the most notorious in the rally calendar and the special stages take place on tarmac, are twisty and demanding and often feature stomach-churning altitude and hairpin bends. In rallying circles, the event is often referred to as the ‘Rally of the 1000 Corners’.
“It’s going to be a totally new challenge for us and one we are both looking forward to,” Al Ketbi, the winner of last year’s Middle East Rally Championship Jordan Rally, said.
“We have heard how challenging the stages are in Corsica and will not be taking any risks, although we want to put ourselves into a position to score IRC points.”
The Intercontinental Rally Challenge had already visited the Azores in the Atlantic Ocean, the island of Gran Canaria and the twisty, demanding lanes of the Circuit of Ireland, before action resumes in Corsica.
Al Ketbi and Al Kendi have endured mixed fortunes on their first events. They were forced out in the Azores with a broken wheel and continued the following day without being able to score IRC points.
But the duo then finished an excellent 10th overall in Gran Canaria and now hold equal 16th in the championship standings.
Rivals to the Skydive Dubai Team this weekend include defending IRC champion and series leader Andreas Mikkelsen, his Finnish rival Juho Hanninen, Czech driver Jan Kopecky and the talented young German Sepp Wiegand.
The event starts in Ajaccio in the south-west of the island on Thursday afternoon. There are 14 special stages, totalling 318.23km, with three taking place on Thursday, a further five on Friday and six on Saturday.
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
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Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
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Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
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Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
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Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
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