The Peninsula
Veteran driver Khalid Al Mohannadi has his eyes firmly fixed on getting a podium spot at this week’s Manateq Qatar Cross-Country Rally.
Al Mohannadi is expected is set to partner French co-driver Minaudier Loic in their Polaris RZR in the T3 class at the Feb 21-26 event.
“I am confident I will be on the podium because I have a good strategy,” Al Mohannadi said in an interview just two days from the start of the event.
“I will be competing against Adel Hussein. Adel is racing in T3 now. There will be 15 teams as of now. I am not sure of the exact number,” he added.
“I have been in this sport for 10 years. Now I am training to get glory in T3. Even my sponsors asked me if I wanted to try T2 or T1 but I said I will stick to T3,” Al Mohannadi said. “I know my potential in T3. There is a great deal of pressure but I am trying to relax. I need points to take to next race.
“I intend to compete with the aim of winning races this season.
“I want to be at the top. I am only competing to win. I think I have a decent shot,” he added.
Al Mohannadi said he is aiming to feature in all the five races in the FIA Cross-Country Rally Championship.
“I want to feature in all races of the FIA Cross-Country Rallies and the FIA Baja competitions also. I have short-term goals and long-term goals. I will continue to work on my fitness as well as devising a winning strategy. I want to take the name of my country to the top. I want to do well. I need to continue with my racing passion,” Al Mohannadi said.
“I want to be different with my races. I wanted a co-driver who would make a difference. It is difficult to get a co-driver who can do well. Off-road events are a different challenge every day. And it’s dangerous as well. It’s not an easy sport by any means,” he added. “But I want to look for my own identity,” he said.
A stellar line-up will be seen in action over the course of next week. This year’s Dakar Rally champion Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah will team up with co-driver Matthieu Baumel in their Toyota Hilux in T1 class.
Al Mohannadi said it is the best time to be a rally driver.
“Qatar attracts top drivers and riders from around the world. The world’s best rallying stars will be here. Qatar too has a strong entry with Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah and Adel Hussain. In Qatar the overall level of racing is so much better. The participants put good strategy and work on it meticulously. There is great support from the QMMF,” Al Mohannadi said.
“For this season, I will start the season in T3 at this week’s Qatar Manateq Cross-Country Rally. My number is 220. I had been out of the country for six-seven months preparing for the season. I went to Las Vegas and took part in races there to build my capacity. It is essential to race around the world. When a rider becomes a co-driver, it is a great scenario. I always wanted somebody who could be a good co-driver. T3 needs a different strategy. You need to have a good suspension. T1 and T2 are different to T3,” he explained.
QMMF is listed to field at least 12 teams at this week’s event. Al Mohannadi was all praise for QMMF’s gesture.
“The QMMF is doing great work for the drivers. They give every kind of support and that is very encouraging for drivers. It is an expensive sports without sponsor sport. I have sponsors. Hopefully I will get major breakthrough with my good results in the future,” Al Mohannadi said.
In T1, Al Attiyah is listed to be joined by Mohammed Abu Issa while Abdulla Al Rabban is the sole home entrant in T2. In T3 this week at the QCCR, Al Mohannadi will be joined by Adel Hussein Abdulla, Mohammed Abuhassan, Abdulla Najeeb Al Baker, Mohammed Saad Al Harqan, Mohammed Al Meer, Mubarak Khalifa Al Khelaifi, Rashid Juma Al Mohannadi, Mohammed Al Attiyah, Ahmed Al Kuwari and Nasser Saadon Al Kuwari as home hopes this week.