Al Mohannadi aims for ‘memorable’ season

Qatar’s off-road star Khalid Al Mohannadi will be aiming to start his T3 season with a positive outing at this week’s Manateq Qatar Cross-Country Rally.

Al Mohannadi, who will partner Sebastien Delaunay in their Polaris RZR 1000 Turbo at the February 22-27 off-road spectacle, yesterday said he has lofty ambitions in the 2020 season.

“I am ready to start racing in the new season. Physically and mentally, I am raring to go in the first round of Manateq Qatar Cross-Country Rally,” Al Mohannadi said at a media conference attended by a representative of his sponsor Universe Sports Marketing.

“I congratulate Qatar Motor and Motorcycling Federation (QMMF) for put things together for what will be a great week of racing. I also take this opportunity to thank QMMF President Abdulrahman Al Mannai for supporting drivers in Qatar,” Al Mohannadi added.

“The QMMF President is very supportive of Qatari drivers and riders taking active part in big events. I feel proud of this support from QMMF,” A Mohannadi said.

“It is essential to have the right kind of support and I feel I have that. When you have the right kind of support and backing, you can go about putting in place a right kind of strategy to win races. Of course, you learn a lot as you go along.

“I also have the support of French technical experts who have a lot of experience. My ride is well equipped and well configured. We have fulfilled all FIA requirements to get ready for the first round,” Al Mohannadi added.

“This is an important week for me and my team and my sponsors. Participating in the FIA Cross-Country World Championship is an important mission for me. It represents a new challenge for me to compete in 17 rounds this season. I will do my best to produce a memorable season,” Al Mohannadi said.

“I know it will be tough but I am looking at podium finishes. I want to do what Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah has done for Qatar. Nasser always does well for Qatar. He is a superman of the rallying world,” Al Mohannadi said.

Regarding his strategy this week, Al Mohannadi said yesterday: “I have experience of driving a lot on my home soil and around the region. I know the course well and let me know tell you Qatar terrain is difficult to navigate. But I feel I have an expert navigator in Sebastien Delaunay. He too has a lot of experience of competing in the rallying world. He has previously participated in Dubai Baja and we achieved third place in the category T3.”

Al Mohannadi said at the start of the 2019 season, he had spent ‘valuable time’ in training in Las Vegas and this year, he went on a longer training drill in France to prepare for the new season.

Al Muhannadi revealed that if he achieves positive results in Qatar, he will continue to participate in the rest of the cross country rounds.

“Hope cannot be hidden when you want to do well for your country, especially at world championship events. That’s where the greatest of responsibilities become evident in the mind of a driver. Yes, drivers can be nervous but that’s because you want to do well for your team and country. It is the same with me,” he said.

“I take this opportunity to thank my sponsors Universe Sports Marketing. I can only continue to chase my dreams with their support,” Al Mohannadi said.

Zaid Yaaroub, Marketing Director of Universe Sports Marketing, said: “We are always keen to support Qatari racing talent. In our research we found that Khalid Al Mohannadi is one driver who can do well for his country. We are happy that the opening round of the World Cross-Country Rally Championship is being held in Qatar. We are honoured to be associated with Khalid Al Mohannadi. We wish him good luck here and in the remaining part of the season. We are confident he can fly the flag of Qatar wherever he goes for motor sport events.”