BY RIZWAN REHMAT
DOHA: Dakar Rally champion Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah, recently dubbed the ‘Prince of Dakar’ in Argentina, has no plans to stop after nailing his second triumph in the world’s most gruelling off-road competition.
Four days ago, Qatar Rally Team driver Al Attiyah and co-driver Matthieu Baumel won the 2015 Dakar Rally after leading from day two all the way to the finish and going fastest on six stages.
On Monday night, the Qatari rally star was warmly received at the airport by the Minister of Youth and Sports H E Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser Al Ali, Qatar Olympic Committee Secretary General Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and QMMF President Nasser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah at Hamad International Airport.
In a stunning performance, Al Attiyah and co-driver recorded a 35-minute lead in the 9,000-kilometre rally that attracted the world’s top drivers and riders over 14 days of competition.
It was Nasser’s second win on the Dakar following his triumph in 2011. This is also a fourth consecutive triumph for MINI.
“Yes, yes, people in Argentina started calling me ‘Prince of Dakar,” Al Attiyah said with a huge smile on his face at the Ministerial Lounge of Hamad International Airport late on Monday night.
“But you know our target is to break the win record at Dakar Rally,” Al Attiyah said with a firm tone.
Excerpts from a chat with the champion rally driver:
Question: What does this win mean to you, to Qatar and for the motor sport scene in the region?
Answer: It means everything for me because our target was to go there and win the world’s biggest race in the world. I am so happy to win this difficult race. To receive a call from His Highness the Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani was a great. The Emir said ‘well done’ and those words felt so great to me. It was a great moment for me. Also, my fellow Qataris have wished me well. It was a fantastic day for me.
Question: How do you compare the two Dakar Rally wins?
Answer: This is a special win for me because I received a lot of calls from fans in Qatar and the rest of the world. I got support from QMMF, the Qatar Olympic Committee and my sponsors Ooredoo.
Question: Now you are called the ‘Prince of Dakar’. Is that how you were addressed at the rally?
Answer: Yes, yes, people in Argentina started calling me ‘Prince of Dakar (laughs). But you know our target is to break the win record at Dakar Rally.
Question: How do you feel at this reception that you have got here?
Answer: It was great to see so many people turn up at the airport. I am thankful to them for being here. H E the Sports Minister was here as well as Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani from Qatar Olympic Committee. President of QMMF Nasser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah was present as well. My sponsors were also present.
Question: Were you confident of winning when you went there?
Answer: I promised last year when I was on the podium that I’d be back to win, and now I’m here. It was very hard to lead the race from the very beginning and to continue keeping this position on the long distance. It is not an easy race by any means. I’m very happy about this great result and I want to thank and congratulate all mechanics and the team for the great job they have done during the two weeks. The MINI ALL4 Racing is an incredible car.
THE PENINSULA
