Qatari rally driver Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah pose for a photograph after winning the Shiraz International Rally in south-central Iran, on Friday.
Qatar’s star rally driver Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah, who clinched his 13th FIA Middle East Championship crown on Friday, is in no mood to slow down.
The 46-year-old, who also has an Olympics bronze medal to his name, is eyeing another shot at the region’s top title next year.
On Friday, Al Attiyah and co-driver Matthieu Baumel stormed to wins in all stages of the Shiraz Rally - the fifth and final round of this year’s championship - to nail their title win in a Ford Fiesta R5.
“I thank God for this honour. I dedicate this win to the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the country’s sports fans. To raise the Qatari flag after the win feels great,” Al Attiyah said.
“My success is my country’s success,” he added.
“To lift the crown for the 13th time will go down in the history books. Despite difficulties during the race, we managed to win the title. It was a fighting win,” Al Attiyah said in a statement yesterday.
Al Attiyah - a two-time Dakar Rally champion - hopes to have another shot next year, saying he still has the energy and desire to compete at the top level.
He also thanked his sponsors ‘for their wholehearted support’ in helping him compete at the top events around the world.
Al Attiyah also applauded QMMF - the country’s motor sport body - for ‘contributing to the success’.
Al Attiyah said Shiraz Rally was a tough assignment.
“It was a strong competition with some solid drivers. We did well in our Ford Fiesta R5 to emerge victorious,” he said in a statement.
Al Attiyah said: “I was a little edgy at the start but such fears quickly faded as we adapted well to the challenge of retaining our lead.”
Abdul Mannai, President of QMMF, said: “I congratulate Nasser Al Attiyah for winning the Middle East championship for the 13th time. This is no surprise for a Qatari champion who has done so well over the years. We are sure there’s more to come in the future.”
