MERC Middle East Rally Championship 2014-KuwaitRally

After finishing on the podium in Qatar, Khalid Al Qassimi and Chris Patterson ended the Kuwait Rally as runners-up, having led in the early stages.The Citroen DS3 RRC crew thus moved into second place in the FIA Middle East Rally Championship standings.

Competing in one of the Abu Dhabi Racing – Citroen Middle East Trophy’s five Citroën DS3 R3s, Mohamed Al Mutawaa claimed a second consecutive win in the “two-wheel drive” class.Khalid Al Qassimi and Chris Patterson made a very competitive start to the rally, holding the overall lead after the first three tests and amassing a series of stage wins on Mesfir 1, Kheiran 1 and Kheiran 2. Only 12.5 seconds off the lead in second place at the end of the first leg, the Citroen DS3 RRC crew showed it had the pace to compete for the win on the Kuwaiti roads.

“Today’s stages went very well,” commented Khalid Al Qassimi. “I would like to thank the team for sparing no effort in preparing the cars. Our Citroen DS3 RRC had the ideal settings for these conditions. Being so close to first place augurs well for the rest of the rally. We must use the car’s potential to our advantage, whilst avoiding any setbacks.”

With two stage wins, Khalid Al Qassimi remained within striking distance of the leader throughout the second leg. A puncture in the closing stages of the rally, however, meant he had to settle for second place.

“I’m pleased to have scored the points for second place, even though my aim was to win the rally. I am still fully focussed on the objective of winning the MERC title. I therefore need to score as many points as possible at each event,” concluded the Abu Dhabi driver.

The five Abu Dhabi Racing – Citroen Middle East Trophy crews put the experience they have already acquired to good use, showing strong pace and consistency. Winner in Qatar, Mohamed Al Mutawaa dominated his team-mates at the start of the rally. Clear leader in the two-wheel drive class, he ended day one in ninth overall. He stayed in this position until the end of the race. Mohamed Al Mutawaa therefore claimed the category win ahead of Mohamed Al Sahlawi, Mansoor Bel Helei and Saeed Bintouq.

“The stages were a lot smoother than those in Qatar,” explained the winner. “I really enjoyed this rally because it was perfectly suited to my driving style. Thanks to the team and to my co-driver Stephen McAuley, whose experience proved invaluable.”

The next round of the MERC will be held in Jordan, on 1-2 May. Before then, Khalid Al Qassimi and Chris Patterson will be taking part in Rally de Portugal in the Citroen Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team’s Citroen DS3 WRC.

Final overall standings1. Al Attiyah / Bernacchini (Ford Fiesta RRC) 2h09’38’’42. Al Qassimi / Patterson (Citroën DS3 RRC) 2h10’05’’93. Al Rajhi / Orr (Ford Fiesta RRC) 2h11’50’’74. Al Qassimi / Derousseaux (Ford Fiesta RRC) 2h14’05’’95. Bin Eidan / Al Kuwari (Ford Fiesta R5) 2h14’26’’36. Al Kuwari / Duffy (Ford Fiesta RRC) 2h16’11’’17. Al Kuwari / Arena (Ford Fiesta R5) 2h21’53’’88. Al Attiyah / Hussein (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) 2h24’03’’69. Al Mutawaa / McAuley (Citroën DS3 R3) 2h30’57’’010. Al Sahlawi / Parry (Citroën DS3 R3) 2h33’03’’313. Bel Helei / Al Kendi (Citroën DS3 R3) 2h43’14’’514. Bintouq / Harryman (Citroën DS3 R3) 2h48’07’’5

Middle East Rally Championship standings (after two rounds)1. Nasser Al Attiyah 50 points2. Khalid Al Qassimi 33 points3. Yazeed Al Rajhi 27 points4. Abdulaziz Al Kuwari 26 points5. Abdullah Al Kuwari 14 points…7. Mohamed Al Mutawaa 10 points9. Mohamed Al Sahlawi 7 points…