2011 KUWAIT INTERNATIONAL RALLY, March 10-12, 2011
FIA Middle East Rally Championship, round two
For immediate release
Monday, March 7th, 2011
THIRTEEN KUWAITI TEAMS GRACE ENTRY LIST
FOR THIS WEEK’S KUWAIT INTERNATIONAL RALLY
· Essam Al-Nejadi heads local entry in his Mitsubishi Lancer
· Fahad Ashkanani hoping to build upon top 10 finish in Qatar
KUWAIT CITY (Kuwait): Thirteen Kuwaiti drivers grace the entry list for the 2011 Kuwait International Rally, the second round of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship, which takes place on Friday and Saturday (March 11-12).
Essam Al-Nejadi holds third overall in this year’s rally series after finishing fourth in round one in Qatar. He was the top Kuwaiti finisher in last year’s regional rally series and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX driver heads the local contingent alongside co-driver Anwar Al-Shraah at number four behind Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah, Sharjah’s Sheikh Abdullah Al-Qassimi and the UAE’s Rashid Al-Ketbi.
His brother Meshal Al-Nejadi is a former regional Formula Two champion and has also taken part in Middle East events as a co-driver. He openly admits that he missed taking part in events as a driver and is relishing his return to the hot seat in Kuwait and is seeded at six alongside navigator Ahmed Al-Khaas in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX.
Fahad Ashkanani currently holds seventh position in the points’ standings for the regional rally series after round one and is seeded in a similar position with co-driver Husein Gadanfar in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII. The Kuwaiti finished 10th overall in the Al-Wakra-based Qatar event last month and will be hoping to reach the top five in Kuwait.
The fourth Kuwaiti driver in the top 10 is Meshari Al-Thafiri, the former runner-up to Nick Georgiou in the Middle East Pirelli Star Driver competition. He and Mubarak Al-Thafiri are seeded at nine.
The experienced Mufeed Mubarak and co-driver Saad Al-Melaifi have entered a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X at number 12, while Sheikh Abdullah Humoud Al-Sabah makes his regional debut with a Subaru Impreza N12 in the provisional starting position of 15.
Eid Al-Fazran and Ahmed Al-Zabibi are entered at 16, regular regional competitor Abdullah Al-Hajri wheels out his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX at 19 and Masoud Al-Saleh rounds off the top 20 with his Subaru Impreza.
Kholoud Abdullatif (Mitsubishi), Elie Chachati (Mitsubishi), Fadi Koumaira (Subaru) and Ibrahim Al-Mdhahkah (Mitsubishi) complete the impressive line-up of local entrants.
“We are delighted to see such tremendous support for our rally from a host of local drivers,” enthused Essa Hamzeh, chairman of the organising committee. “This shows the strength and popularity of motor sport in the State of Kuwait and bodes well for an exciting future.”
The event is being organised by the Kuwait International Automobile Club (KIAC) in co-operation with the Kuwait Quarter Mile Club under the chairmanship of Sheikh Duaj Fahad Al-Duaj Al-Sabah, chairman of the higher organising committee of the KIAC, and the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the deputy prime minister for development affairs and chairman of the Kuwait Olympic Committee.
Ends
For further information:
Neil Perkins, NDP Publicity Services, International Media Liaison, 2011 Kuwait International Rally, Mobile: + 44 7831 123153, E-mail: ndppublicity@googlemail.com,
www.ndp-publicity.com (press releases).
www.merc-fia.com
www.kuwaitrally.com