FIA Middle East Rally Champioinship

The Dubai International Rally is set to provide a grand finale to the 2006 FIA Middle East Championship, with the event's record-breaking 15-times winner predicting a strong climax to the regional series.
The last of seven rounds in this year's championship takes place from 29th November to 1st December under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation, Chairman of Emirates Group and Chairman of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise.
While Qatar's Nasser Al Attiyah has already clinched the Middle East drivers' title Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who scored the last of his 15 Dubai International Rally victories in 2002, says there is still a great deal at stake as the season reaches its climax.

"This is one of the longest established and best known international rallies in the Middle East, and it is always a great prize for the winner," said Sulayem, now chief organiser of the event and President of the Automobile and Touring Club for the UAE.
"Many times in the past it has been the rally which decided the championship, but even though the title has already won this year by Nasser we're looking forward to a very competitive event.
Added Sulayem: "It's always good to round off the season with a win, especially with the 2007 Middle East Championship getting under way in January which means there's a big incentive for all the drivers to grab the initiative."

Once again the event enjoys the full backing of the Government of Dubai, with co-sponsorship from Nakheel, the premier property developer behind Dubai's most spectacular projects, Emarat, and the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel, the official headquarters for the event.
Partnered by British co-driver Chris Patterson in a Group N Subaru Imprezza, Middle East champion Al Attiyah, winner of the event in 2003 and 2004, heads an initial entry list of 21 competitors from nine Middle East and overseas countries.
Among the men aiming to block his path to victory this time will be another former winner, the UAE's Sheikh Suhail Al Maktoum, also in Subaru, and veteran Lebanese driver Michel Saleh in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.
Two former Group N production class champions, Sharjah's Sheikh Abdullah Al Qassimi at the wheel of a Mitsubishi Lancer, and Oman's Nizar Al Shanfari in a Subaru, will also be aiming for podium places, as will Jordan's Amjad Farrah in another Mitsubishi.
Following scrutineering on Wednesday 29th November, the 2006 Dubai International Rally gets underway from the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel at 9.30am the following day at the start of a 640-km route containing 14 special stages.
Leg One takes the cars through two loops of three special stages and a final burst of two more stages, split by to service halts, in the Hatta area, before the night halt back in Dubai.
The second leg starts from the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel at 8am on 1st December and features a double loop of three special stages in the Jebel Ali area separated by a service regrouping.

(Courtesy of Total Communications)