Execrable Country – Commanding dwelling clutch for Al-Attiyah and Baumel

Nasser Al-Attiyah and Mathieu Baumel claimed an emphatic victory on the Qatar Execrable Country Rally, the outlet spherical of the FIA World Cup for Execrable Country Rallies. The Toyota Hilux pairing romped by the very top selective portion to clutch the fastest time and a winning margin of 1 hour 31 minutes and 40 seconds. Yazeed Al Rajhi and Michael Orr performed 2d, the Hilux automobiles locking out the podium with Jakub Przygonski and Timo Gottschalk in third.

Thursday’s closing day of competition took in a single selective portion of 254.58 kilometres with the route heading north, hugging the western shoreline earlier than turning southwards and ending within the central barren announce.

Al-Attiyah started third within the road and powered by the portion to clutch the stage by edifying 24 seconds over Przygonski. On the present time’s victory represents the Qatari’s seventh dwelling clutch in 9 years whereas co-driver Baumel has now stood on the highest step of the podium six instances. “I’m elated to clutch this clutch, it modified into no longer easy, there modified into quite a few hard navigation and this day we had three flats,” stated Al-Attiyah, winner of 4 of the 5 selective sections. “To clutch you wish no navigation errors and the least punctures. Right here is a legit confide in our championship campaign,” concluded the Qatari, who takes a 10-point advantage within the sequence standings after the first of 5 events.

Including to his feedback, Baumel stated: “Luxuriate in as soon as a year it is no longer easy for the co-drivers. The two first days were the most sophisticated to glance the traces, after which it modified into extra ravishing. We have got performed wisely and it’s edifying elements for the Championship.”

After winning the day gone by’s stage, Al Rajhi had the job of opening the road and trailed Al-Attiyah by edifying over 5 minutes by the portion. “We had a tiny tyre wretchedness, it stripped out, after which we additionally had a puncture,” stated Al Rajhi, who arrived at the develop with resultant rear panel disaster on the Hilux. “I’m good adequate with this put; this modified into the arrangement for the open up of the season.”

Przygonski performed the portion 2d to develop on the podium in his first day out within the Toyota. After shedding a substantial length of time with damaged steering earlier within the occasion, the Pole bounced support from seventh put to claim the very top trophy. “We all had the same wretchedness earlier than the develop as soon as we misplaced the pattern [tread] of the tyre,” stated Przygonski. “It modified into hard on the tyres this day, stony and very hard ground. I’m elated within the highest after our earlier concerns. It modified into a legit bustle and we learnt the auto and what now we own got to back out to be faster.”

There modified into a shakeup at the aid of the main trio and Ahmed Al-Kuwari seized the opportunity, he and co-driver Manuel Lucchese snatching the T3 victory in their Can-Am Maverick within the very top stage. “There modified into one in all two results this day; either we clutch or we elevate the steering wheel support!” stated the elated Qatari. “I seen that Khalid [Al Mohannadi] had concerns because we passed him on the piste just a few instances. We obtained misplaced additionally. It modified into the truth is tricky and we suffered one puncture. We were driving fancy there modified into no the following day to come; it modified into repeatedly going to head one in all two ways…”

Saleh Alsaif and Ali Hassan Obaid took 2d within the category but there modified into bitter disappointment for Khalid Al Mohannadi and Sébastien Delaunay. T3 leaders for 3 of the 5 legs, the Polaris crew were struck with two punctures in this day’s portion and compelled to power the very top 50 kilometres with the rear left on the wheel rim, shedding them to third within the category.

The 2d spherical of the FIA World Cup for Execrable Country Rallies keeps the contenders within the announce for the Abu Dhabi Barren announce Field (20-26 March).

Manateq Qatar Execrable Country Rally – Final Classification

T3 winners Ahmed Al-Kuwari/Manuel Lucchese

Photos: RallyZone