Engine trouble for al Qassimi in Syria

SEDNAYA, SYRIA // Qatar's Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah and Giovanni Bernacchini, his Italian co-driver, hold a lead of more than seven minutes going into tomorrow's remaining six stages of the 10th Syrian International Rally, round six of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC).

"Mission accomplished so far," said Al-Attiyah after finishing today's seven stages with an advantage of 7mins 39.5secs.

"I pushed very hard to get into a lead and I was able to control my pace from then on. I need to take maximum points. So far so good."

Engine failure cost Sheikh Khalid al Qassimi second place after three stages and it was left to Syria's Haitham Al-Yousefi and Ahmad Hamsho to give chase midway through the day. Al Qassimi damaged his engine on the run into service and was sidelined. Al-Yousefi and Hamsho, the local duo, finished second and fourth, with Sharjah's Sheikh Abdullah al Qassimi sandwiched between them in third overall. Hamsho was delayed late on and al Qassimi duly moved up to third spot.

Misfer Al-Marri, the regional championship leader, started slowly, but climbed up to 10th place at the day's mid-point and starts today's remaining six stages in fourth overall and classified as the third registered MERC driver. Fellow Qatari Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari holds fifth position at the end of day one and Hamsho seventh. Only two of the 19 starters retired. Lebanon's Michel Saleh had gear-stick problems.

The event is taking place under the patronage of the Ministry of Tourism and resumes today with a further six special stages before the ceremonial finish outside the Sheraton Ma'arat Sednaya. Teams will tackle the Deir Ateyah, Runnet and MTN Speed stages twice during the course of the today.

* Agency