JEDDAH, 29 June — Saudi motorist of MBC-Bison Team Ahmad Al-Sabban exudes confidence as he participates in the Lebanon International Rally — the fifth round of the Middle East Championship, which begins at Beirut tonight.
This is Al-Sabban’s third participation during the current season. He earlier took part in the Jordan International Rally in which he got the fourth place in Group “N” and was awarded three points in the current year’s Middle East Championship.
“During the current season, I’ll work hard to achieve an advanced position in the championship of my group in order to establish my competitive capability. I’m sure of my achievement, after the success I realized in the Jordan International Rally where I was awarded the cup for the best participating team. The team has occupied eighth place in the general order of the Middle East Championship 2001,” Al-Sabban said.
Tests were carried out in Al-Sabban’s “Evolution” car to ensure the efficient functioning of the engine and other parts of the car. Safety aspects were also checked after changes were made in the car after the Jordan rally. The tests covered the turbo, control brakes made especially for the asphalted roads, and tires.
Speaking on the eve of his departure to Beirut, Al-Sabban remarked: “We’re leaving for Lebanon to carry out the technological tests in the vehicle after the changes made in it to make sure that the vehicle is sound and fit for the mountainous and other road conditions.”
Born in London in 1970, Al-Sabban, who holds a business administration degree, joined the rally world in 1992 and has since participated in over 30 international rally events. “I’ve fulfilled my dream of forming a Saudi team for the Middle East Rally Championship 2001 under a Saudi sponsor - the Middle East Broadcasting Center (MBC) and Bison. In 1999 Al-Sabban was the first Arab national to participate in an American rally in which he ranked sixth in category 2.
Meanwhile, Middle East Champion Muhammad Ben Sulayem has remarked he faces one of the biggest tests of his career in the Lebanon International Rally. The Arab world’s top driver says his focus is on a unique Ford clean sweep in World and Middle East Championships.
In fact, it has been a brilliant season for the 12-times Middle East champion, and the Ford Focus World Rally Car. He has a 100 percent record in this year’s FIA regional series after wins in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Jordan. Ford is on course for a fifth manufacturers’ title and it is a similar pattern in the World Rally Championship.
Colin McRae’s hat trick of victories in his Ford Focus WRC has taken him to the top of the world standings and put Ford in the driver’s seat.
But can this impressive Ford roadshow reach a triumphant conclusion in the very year that the manufacturer celebrates the 100th anniversary of its debut in motorsport? Says Ben Sulayem: “There’s a long way to go, particularly in the World Rally Championship, and you can never afford to relax in this sport. We’re in a strong position in the Middle East, and Colin has had a fantastic run in the World Championship. The car is going from strength to strength, and I believe it’s only going to get better.”
Speaking about the Lebanon rally, Ben Sulayem said: “This is my toughest rally for as long as I can remember. The Italian, Pierro Liatti, is among the top group of tarmac drivers in the world and he is definitely the man to beat.
Then we’ve Abdullah Bakhashab, who pushed me to the limit in the Middle East before he started competing in the FIA World Cup, and I know he’ll be going flat out to show how much progress he has made.
Add Yves Loubet from France, and Lebanon’s Jean-Pierre Nasrallah and Roger Feghali, all of them driving World Rally Cars, and we’ve a big fight on our hands. This is going to be a real battle.”
Asked for his comments about his last rally with Ronan Morgan who has been his co-driver for the last 14 years, Ben Sulayem said: “I’ve won 53 rallies n the Middle East Championship, 41 of those with Morgan, and he’s been my right hand man in so many ways. He’s been the complete professional; always alert, always one step ahead and we’ve developed a great understanding and trust. I’m obviously going to miss him, and of course it’s a big loss. But Morgan has decided to change direction in his career after 26 years as a co-driver and I wish him well. Now, we want to win our last rally together, but it’s going to be difficult.”
The 25th edition of the Lebanon Rally gets along with 36 cars at the departure point - 19 in group A, 17 in group N and 5 WRC. The competition promises to be fierce.
Twenty foreign crews coming from all over the world include Arabs, Europeans and an Australian. A show of classical cars will precede the rally in the heart of Beirut. According to ATCL, Ben Sulayem will be the first one to take the departure on a Ford Focus WRC, followed by the Italian driver Piero Liatti on a Subaru Impreza WRC. Abdullah Bakhashab in the third place on a Toyota Corolla WRC will be followed by the Lebanese champion Roger Feghali on a Subaru Impreza WRC.
