KUWAIT CITY // Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi quite literally got lost in the clouds.
The Emirati driver, competing on Day 1 of the Kuwait International Rally, approached a jump midway through the third stage on Friday, took to the air and found himself enveloped in a blanket of disorienting dust.
“We came over the jump and, among the sand and dust, the car landed on a track that looked familiar,” Al Qassimi said.
“I thought ‘Yes, this is it’ and we drove for 800m, but then when we reached a junction, I realised the mistake.”
Al Qassimi, competing in an Abu Dhabi Racing Citroen, estimated the error cost him and co-pilot Chris Patterson about 35 seconds.
Nasser Al Attiyah, the winner of last year’s Middle East Rally Championship (Merc), leads by one minute and 14.9 seconds going into the final day. The Qatari defending champion’s Ford Fiesta RRC was quickest on every stage and is on course for a fourth successive victory in 2015 and a fifth win in Kuwait since 2009.
“No problems for us, a good clean run and a good lead,” he said.
“I’m very happy. Now I need to manage my pace, keep it clean and stay out of trouble. If I do that, if I continue in this way, I will win the second round of the Merc.”
In the two-wheel-drive class, three of the four Abu Dhabi Racing junior drivers were forced to retire on a forgettable day for the development academy.
Only Mohammed Al Sahlawi and co-driver Craig Parry managed to avoid the issues that sidelined their teammates. They go into Saturday’s final six stages in eighth place overall.
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
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