Qatari driver Mohamed Al Meer (fourth left) and his Russian co-driver Alexey Kuzmich celebrate with the President of Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF), Abdulrahman Al Mannai (centre) and General Secretary Abdul Razzaq Al Kuwari (right) after
Doha: Tackling the mountainous terrain in the east of the country, Mohamed Al Meer yesterday won the fifth round of the hugely popular Qatar Manateq Baja series.
The experienced Qatari driver, along with his Russian co-driver Alexey Kuzmich, powered their Nissan Patrol to the win in a time of 2:26:04. The race was stretched over two stages that fully tested the drivers.
By virtue of the victory, Al Meer has cut down the overall championship lead over veteran Qatari rally driver Sheikh Hamad Al Thani by five points.
A former MERC winner, Sheikh Hamad has a tally of 72 points. Sheikh Hamad yesterday finished in third place with co-driver Feras Allouh. The duo had finished the rally in second place in 2:34:55 seconds, but incurred a three-minute penalty which pushed them down to third in the podium.
Qatar-Jordan pair of Mohamed Al Attiyah and Tamer Issa missed out on podium after a six-second penalty cost them a third-place finish and put them in fourth. Their misfortune meant Qatar’s Rashid Al Mohannadi and Kuwaiti co-driver Ahmed Al Fares take the second spot in their Nissan Patrol in a time of 2:36:31 seconds.
The fifth place went to Qatar’s Ahmed Allouh and Nasser al-Kuwari with another Qatari duo Nayef al-Nasr Jassim Falahi coming sixth. Nine vehicles started the rally but only six were able to cross the finish line after a treacherous desert terrain of Sealine and Khor Al Udaid, which will consisted of a number of marked courses.
President of Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) Abdulrahman Al Mannai gave away the trophies at the prize distribution ceremony held at QMMF headquarters at Losail Sports Hall.
On Friday, Minister of Culture and Sports H E Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali visited the QMMF headquarters.
“The Sports Minister visits the QMMF headquarters often to offer his support to young Qatari drivers and riders,” Al Mannai said.
“The Minister is always keen to talk to drivers and riders and to see their level of preparation,” the QMMF President added.
“Motor sport is huge in Qatar and the Minister supports the young home riders and drivers. The Minister’s conversations helps the participants in our events in good spirits,” he said.
Al Mannai thanked Manataq, the main sponsors of the championship. He thanked Fahad Rashid Al Kaabi, CEO of Manateq, for “their continuous support to QMMF events in particular and other sports in general”.
The sixth and final round of the championship will be held on January 19.
