Sheikh Khalid Al Qasimi Set to Return to the World Rally Championship in Sweden

Introduction

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, January 30, 2013: Emirati driver Sheikh Khalid Al Qasimi is gearing up for a challenging test of his driving skills as he prepares to return to the World Rally Championship in Sweden next weekend.

Al Qasimi's Return to Rallying

Before his first participation in the 2013 global championship season with the Abu Dhabi Citroën World Rally Team, Al Qasimi believes he is starting a new chapter in his professional career and has confirmed his readiness to compete at a more advanced and professional level.

Al Qasimi's Statements

He stated, "I feel much better and I look forward to returning to the World Rally Championship. I have not yet achieved everything I aspire to, and I hope that with my return to the global stage, I can accomplish greater achievements and, of course, gain more experience."

Challenges in the Sweden Rally

Al Qasimi's participation in the Sweden Rally, the second round of the World Rally Championship held exclusively on snow-covered roads, marks his first international competition after a 15-month hiatus since the Spanish Rally in Catalonia.

Al Qasimi's Preparations

The Emirati star admitted his excitement to participate in the Sweden round, as it poses a significant challenge to driving skills, especially after his recent success in the Qatar International Rally, the opening round of the Middle East Rally Championship, which took place under completely different conditions than those experienced in Sweden.

A Tough Test

Al Qasimi remarked, "This is a very tough test, especially after competing in the Qatar Rally. The conditions are entirely different between the two rallies. As a rally driver, I must adapt to all environments and terrains. This is not an easy task; no two races are exactly alike. Each event presents its unique challenges."

Al Qasimi's Preparations

After being sidelined from competitive events for most of 2012 due to injury, Al Qasimi returned to form and led the first half of the Qatar International Rally with the Abu Dhabi Citroën Total World Rally Team, before misfortune struck with a punctured tire, allowing Qatari driver Nasser Al Attiyah to take the rally title.

Technical Preparations

Following the grueling desert maneuvers on the outskirts of the Qatari capital and a professional handling of the typical rally issues, Al Qasimi now needs to make immediate adjustments to his car's setup, which will aid him in coping with the extreme cold and snow-covered roads of the Sweden Rally.

Experience of Other Drivers

Since the Sweden Rally was first launched in 1950, only one driver outside of the Scandinavian region has won the rally title, the nine-time champion Frenchman Sébastien Loeb, who is now Al Qasimi's new teammate at Citroën and will undoubtedly be present to offer advice to the Emirati driver.

Team Preparations

Loeb’s expertise in wet conditions was highlighted by his seventh victory at the Monte Carlo Rally for the Abu Dhabi Citroën Total World Rally Team – one of the two teams competing in the World Rally Championship under the new partnership between Abu Dhabi Racing and Citroën Racing.

Collaboration and Development

In Sweden, Loeb will team up with Finnish driver Mikko Hirvonen – winner of the Sweden Rally in 2010 and 2011 – and Spaniard Dani Sordo. Al Qasimi, who is competing in the race alongside British co-driver Scott Martin in another Citroën rally car, looks forward to joining the trio on the designated practice day before the rally kicks off.

Al Qasimi, who led the signing of the partnership with Citroën as the chairman of Abu Dhabi Racing, commented, "I have competed alongside driver Mikko for four years, and I have a strong rapport with Sébastien and Dani through our rally participations. Now that we are teammates, this will certainly contribute significantly to enhancing my knowledge and experience. We will spend a lot of time together sharing experiences and advice, helping each other identify and improve on weaknesses."

Future Aspirations

Al Qasimi believes that the experience and knowledge of the global manufacturer Citroën, which has won the manufacturers' title eight times, will help him advance further in his career. He stated, "I am very excited about this new partnership. Everything looks fantastic in the new car and with my new teammates. This partnership will undoubtedly contribute significantly to elevating Abu Dhabi Racing to the expected level."

Start of the Sweden Rally

The Sweden Rally kicks off next Thursday with a qualifying section and a special ceremonial stage, followed by 21 stages over three days, visiting several regions of Sweden and crossing the Swedish borders before returning to the finish point in Sweden.