Doha, Qatar: Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Qatari driver Nasser Al Attiyah (pictured) and his French navigator Mathieu Baumel yesterday retained their FIA Rally-Raid World Championship title after gaining an unassailable lead over their closest rival Yazeed Al Rajhi (Overdrive Racing) of Saudi Arabia at the Rally Du Maroc.
Al Attiyah won Stage 2 of the Morocco Rally with a substantial 2 minutes and 11 seconds advantage over second placed Carlos Sainz of Audi Sport, in Zagora, yesterday, while Al Rajhi finished fourth. The win lifted Al Attiyah’s overall World Championship points tally to 199 points, while Al Rajhi stayed at 144 points.
Al Attiyah drives during yesterday's stage.
Al Attiyah had a 51-point cushion over Al Rajhi ahead of the Rallye du Maroc, and yesterday’s stage win means it is no longer possible for the Saudi driver to score at least 52 points in the rally to have a shot at the title.
In the 2023 World Rally-Raid Championship, the Qatari star has won three out of the four events so far, namely the Dakar Rally, Sonora Rally and Desafío Ruta 40.
