MUSCAT: Omani rally driver Khalid Soomar and his co-driver Issa al Wardi on Mitsubishi EVO 7 are all set to take part in the fifth and final round of UAE local rally this weekend in Al Fujairah.
Another Omani driver Hamid al Qasimi and his co-driver Mohamed al Mazroui on Mitsubishi EVO 8 will join Soomar in the competition; both drivers have the chance to be on the podium in-group N as both of them have knowledge about Emirates rallies and its stages and tracks.
Soomar is currently in second place overall in Group N with 66 points, while Hamid al Qasimi is in third place with 56 points. The group is led by Shaikh Mohamed al Qasimi from UAE on Subaru Empreza.
The rally will start near the sea road in Al Fujairah, where the flag off ceremony will be held. The chief guest will flag off with the presence of the organising committee.
The rally cars will head down straight to the stages, which will start from the Dam stage for about 6 kilometres, then the rally cars will head to second stage in Esafi for about 9 kilometres and the third stage will be organised in shawakat for about 15 kilometres.
All the stages will be repeated and the final celebration and prize-giving ceremony will be held at the start point near the sea road in Al Fujairah.
Khalid Soomar, who is second overall in Emirate rally championship this year up to round four, said he is happy to attend this rally and hopes to be in the front row despite some technical problems he faced in last rally.
He said: “I will try my best to be in podium, but this is a race which means that anything can happen in between and I would like to thank Target co. for their support in this season. I hope that every competitor will finish the rally safely.”
On the other side, Al Qasmi said: “I am entering the rally without support and sponsors which was the same last year. So I find it very difficult to participate on my own cost without financial support but thanks to Sheikh Abdullah al Qasimi from UAE for his personal support to us as Omani drivers.”
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