JEDDAH, 15 March — Saudi rally champion Ahmed Al-Saban is aiming to secure advanced positions in the Middle East Championship, following his emerging third in the second round of Bahrain Rally Group ‘N’.
“I was able to make it after a fierce competition with Awad who had to abandon the race due to a flat tire,” MBC-Bison driver Al-Saban told Arab News yesterday. “I’m hopeful of doing well in the remaining part of the Middle East Championship. Being in third position, I scored four points and that has put me in front,” said Al-Sabban declaring that he is gearing up for his participation in the Jordan International Rally from May 16-18, and thereafter the Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria and Dubai rallies.
In the three-day Bahrain rally that ended on March 8, Bin Salim won the first position, followed by Abdullah Bakhashab second, Abdullah and Khalid Al-Gassimi fourth, and Al-Saban, sixth.
In his statements before the commencement of the Middle East Rally Championship with the first rally in Qatar held from Feb. 13-15, Al-Saban said he was prepared for full participation. “I underwent a tough training session in a bid to perform well in the championship,” he said. He said his racecar, the Evolution 6, had been upgraded technically and technologically. He was thus hopeful that he would secure advanced positions in the beginning of the race. He also said he would adopt a new strategy this season to win the championship.
Al-Saban, who is among 25 rally drivers participating in the on going championship, however, had to withdraw half way through round 13 of the Qatar rally due to the failure of his car’s computer system. He started experiencing his car’s technical difficulties from the early stages of the race.
