After making waves on the dunes of the Dakar Rally, Nasser Al-Attiyah will be making his WRC debut in an altogether different environment at the Rally Sweden...
Rally Sweden is the inagural event for the all-new Qatar World Rally Team and Nasser Al-Attiyah. The former Production Car World Rally Champion and Dakar winner with Red Bull/VW will step up to the sport’s highest level for the first time in his career, driving a Qatar World Rally Team Citroen DS3 WRC.
Seen for the first time in Karlstad this week, Al-Attiyah’s DS3 WRC will be serviced alongside the sister Red Bull Citroen of Sebastien Loeb, but the former Dakar winner’s machine will incorporate a Qatari colour scheme.
'Setting up the Qatar World Rally Team is really important for me.'
“This is a dream come true,” said Al-Attiyah, who is also contesting the London Olympics this year as part of the Qatar skeet shooting team. “I’m not just talking about driving the Citroen. I mean setting up the Qatar World Rally Team, this is something which is really important for me. This is my home and somewhere I am very proud of, so to have to chance to show people what Qatar is like and what it’s about is really special for me.”
The Qatar World Rally Team will compete on all 12 remaining rounds of this year’s FIA World Rally Championship along with a full programme next season and possibly the year after.
Citroen team principal Yves Matton said: “We are very happy to welcome Nasser and the Qatar World Rally Team to the Citroen family. He’s an impressive all-round driver who has already shown some very good results in the world championship.”
Al-Attiyah, who has been a WRC regular since 2004 and won the Production Car title in 2006, will be joined in the Qatar World Rally Team by his long-standing co-driver Giovanni Bernacchini.
Al-Attiyah tested the Citroen for the first time last week and admitted his priority was to gain experience of the car at this early stage. He is, however, looking forward to the chance to push harder on the summer’s rougher gravel rallies such as the Acropolis.
The snow of Sweden, however, couldn’t present a bigger contrast to Nasser’s home territory. He may well be out of his comfort zone but that won't stop Nasser from giving the rally his best shot.
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