Qatari rally driver Nasser Al Kuwari receiving the Middle East Rally Championships (MERC) 2 co-driver’s trophy from FIA President Jean Todt during a ceremony held in Beirut, Lebanon, last week.
Qatar’s award winning rally driver Nasser Al Kuwari is aiming to compete at the Dakar Rally, the world’s biggest stage in off-road competition.
Al Kuwari, 38, last week received the Middle East Rally Championships (MERC) 2 co-driver’s trophy from FIA President Jean Todt at a motorsport gathering in Beirut, Lebanon.
It was the second MERC 2 trophy for Al Kuwari who comes from a family of rally drivers including his grandfather and father.
“I am so happy to raise the Qatar flag in this fashion. Many of my friends ask me why I don’t change my driver’s seat. I am happy with my seat. This is my job. I give my best every time. If I can stay like this, I wouldn’t mind racing for another 10 years,” Al Kuwari told The Peninsula in an exclusive chat.
“I am looking to one day win the overall MERC title if I can,” Al Kuwari said.
“But I have another dream - I hope one day I can join the world’s biggest stage - the Dakar Rally. I hope I could be there next year,” the affable Qatari said.
“I am doing all I can to be in that position. If I get a sponsor for my driver’s fee, I will definitely be going there. As we know competing at Dakar Rally is expensive. You need a huge budget. I hope I can do it once in my life,” he added.
“I was the only Qatari to be awarded in Beirut. Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah, who won the MERC title, could not be there as he is getting ready for the Dakar Rally. It was the first time that I received the trophy from the FIA President. He was happy for me. When he presented the trophy he told me “I was in your country”.
“He was here in Qatar (last week). He was happy for me. It was a great moment for me. They had brought together all the category winners from the MERC last season,” Al Kuwari said.
Al Kuwari said the 2018 season was a ‘fantastic year’.
“I am so happy for my season. It was a fantastic year. It was one of my best seasons ever. I can say it is the best year of my 18-year career in rallying,” Al Kuwari said.
“It feels great because racing is in my blood. My grandfather was a rally driver, my father is a great driver and now me. My seniors are so happy to see me do so well. We sit together and we always talk about motorsport - our topics are drivers, riders, rallying, circuits - everything that is related to motorsport.
“My family is so happy - my mother, my wife, my children and all of them are excited for me. They know I have won something really big. I am very motivated to do be even better in the future,” he said.
“I am happy with this result. I was happy to get this trophy in Beirut. This was my second trophy. I am happy I have done it again. This trophy feels it has come home. The events take place in our region and it feels we are competing at home. I want to participate in as many events as I can. I thank God for this achievement. I am a very happy person,” he added.
Al Kuwari, in company with driver Ahmed Allou last Saturday won Round 4 of the Qatar Manateq Baja. Al Kuwari was thrilled with the outcome.
“The route tracking device was very helpful. For the last couple of years following the route was very difficult for the drivers and co-drivers. So QMMF gave us new devices that really helped us (in Round 4 of the Qatar Manateq Baja),” Al Kuwari said.
“I would say it was a perfect route. Everything was fine. There was one point where I would say we thought we got a tricky spot to negotiate. Most of the drivers did not go for it whereas we went for it. My driver and I crossed that point and went ahead with our journey. The ones who did not go through it took a penalty whereas we did not get any penalty points since we went through that tricky spot,” he added.
