Rain forces Dubai International Rally organisers to adjust route


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Following the heavy rain that struck the UAE last week, organisers of the Dubai International Rally have moved to ensure that any repeat wet weather this weekend will not cause them any problems.

The Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) have altered the route cars were due to run in an attempt to avoid issues if rain does fall on either Friday or Saturday when the cars are on the course.

“The weather forecast is dry for the next few days, but we aren’t taking any chances so we made some dramatic changes to the route to avoid low lying areas which could flood if there was more rain,” said Mohammed ben Sulayem, the ATCUAE president.

“We had a similar situation last year, and heavy rain during the first leg left a lot of surface water in places. That can lead to problems, so we’ve taken action to guard against the threat.”

The move by the ATCUAE was welcomed by Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi, who experienced some of the wet conditions during testing last week in his Abu Dhabi Citroen DS3.

“We came across quite a lot of water in the desert when we were testing last weekend and had to change our plans to avoid some areas,” said the Emirati, who is looking to win his home rally for a third time, having previously triumphed it in 2005 and 2006.

“If there is some rain, it can firm up the soft sand and make things a bit easier in places. But if we get big pools of water forming, that’s something different so it was a wise step by the organisers to take the route away from some of the low lying areas, just in case.”

The rally officially gets under way with a ceremonial start at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) at 6.15pm tomorrow before the main rally action unfolds along the desert trails over the next two days.

Six stages are held on the Friday, with a further six on the Saturday, before the finish at the DWTC.

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It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.

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The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.

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Analysis

Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.

The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement. 

We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment. 

 

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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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