Nasser takes dramatic victory in Qatar Rally
DOHA (Qatar): Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah and Italian co-driver Giovanni Bernacchini overcame a potentially costly puncture on the ninth special stage to clinch an eighth successive victory in the Qtel Qatar International Rally and take the early season initiative in the FIA Middle East Rally Championship.
Al-Attiyah pedalled the new Ford Fiesta S2000 to an impressive debut victory over 14 demanding gravel stages in the Qatar desert, but the crew were pressed all the way by the UAE’s Sheikh Khalid Al-Qassimi and Ulster co-driver Michael Orr in a similar car.
Ketbi eyes Qatar Rally title
under Sheikh Hamdan sponsorship
DUBAI: The UAE's Rashid Al Ketbi will kick start his campaign for the Middle East Rally Championship at the wheel of a rebranded Skoda Fabia S2000 in the 2010 Qtel Qatar International Rally competing as Fazza3 Team under the main sponsorship of Dubai Crown Prince HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum on January 21.
Exhilarating off-road time
on offer from Gulf News
Participants will stay the night at the camp and leave for their homes in the morning, after breakfast.
Supported by Al Futtaim Motors — Toyota, the Gulf News Overnighter Fun Drive will be held on January 15 and 16. The first Fun Drive was held in 1986 when a total of 75 vehicles participated. It is designed to give people an opportunity to experience the desert.
Sulayem receives Sheikh Mohammed Award
DUBAI: FIA Vice President Mohammed Ben Sulayem on Wednesday received the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Sports Creativity Award in the Best UAE Administrator category at the hands of Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum attended a segment of the award ceremony and congratulated the winners, among whom were HH Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Honorary President of the Football Federation, who won the Local Sports Personality award in recognition of his support to the sports movement in the UAE, and Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahd Al Sabah, Chairman of the Kuwaiti Olympic Committee and President of the Olympic Council of Asia who won the Arab Sports Personality award.
Sulayem welcomes Schumacher's return to F1
DUBAI: FIA Vice President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has welcomed seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher's decision to come out of retirement and race in the 2010 season.
Yas retains F1 thriller for 2010
DUBAI: The Yas Marina Circuit retained the last race for the Formula One 2010 season following intense lobbying by FIA Vice President Mohammed Ben Sulayem at the World Motor Sport Council which met on Friday.
Rally Abu Dhabi to debut 2010
ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) has announced that a new international motorsport event - Rally Abu Dhabi - will debut in the emirate next year as a World Rally Championship (WRC) event with the aim of becoming an official WRC event in 2011 subject to the inaugural rally's success.
The announcement follows the registration of Rally Abu Dhabi as a WRC candidate event on the 2010 FIA international calendar. The bid has been initiated and sponsored by ADTA, and officially tabled by the Automobile Touring Club UAE (ATCUAE), the UAE's national sporting authority on motorsports.
"This is a major leap forward in Abu Dhabi's motor sport ambitions," said His Excellency Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman, ADTA. "We are confident we have the right experience, pedigree, determination and skills to deliver a unique and highly successful round of the WRC championship and that our 2011 ambitions can be fully realized."
FIA says Yas medical facilities ‘excellent’
These observations are contained in an activities report jointly prepared by the Commission’s Formula 1™ Medical Delegate Prof. Jean-Charles Piette and Formula 1™ Rescue Coordinator Dr Gary Hartstein for 2009 which was recently placed before the World Motor Sport Council.
