QATAR, 5 September 2003 — Qatari rally driver Nasser Al-Attiyah contests the two-day Syria International Rally on Sept. 11, looking to increase his lead in the FIA Middle East Championship in his Qatar National Bank, Al Jazeera Satellite TV and 2006 Asian Games Doha supported Subaru Impreza WRC2002.
While Al Attiyah was ebullient about his chances, the Marlboro rally driver and Saudi champion Abdullah Bakhashab, supported by Power Horse, sprang a surprise by withdrawing from the event. Bakhashab decided not to take part in Syria Rally following mishaps in the earlier three rounds had dented his chances.
Partnered by English co-driver Steve Lancaster from Selby in Yorkshire, Al Attiyah is aiming for victory No. 3 in the championship after highly dominant performances on the Qatari and Jordanian rounds of the mostly desert series. A retirement on the Rally of Lebanon has been the only blot on the talented Doha driver’s copybook after an impressive series of drives in the Autotek Motorsport run machine.
Olympic standard skeet shooter Al-Attiyah was in blistering form on the recent Jordan International Rally. After battling with series rival and Peugeot 206 WRC entrant Abdullah Bakhashab in the early stages, Nasser romped home to win by a near 11-minute margin after his Saudi rival was forced to retire.
Unfortunately for Nasser, Bakhashab has decided against entering the Syrian event, a decision that has disappointed the 32 year old.
