Following his career-best, fifth-place finish in last month’s World Rally Championship outing in Australia, Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi, the third driver for Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team, has revealed he is ready to continue his push for a top 10 drivers’ standings position when the series heads to France this weekend for round 11 of the 13-event season.

After snatching 10 points in Australia, Al Qassimi is 12th in the drivers’ positions and only eight points adrift of Spain’s Dani Sordo – the MINI driver. The Emirati driver, however, is aware that the challenging, mixed surface round – the Alsace-based event features a blend of fast, flowing woodland stages and narrow, bumpy asphalt lanes – will be no procession.

“The performance in Australia has reinvigorated my season and put me in a fantastic position with three rallies to go,” said Al Qassimi. “Only eight points separate me from my pre-season goal of a top 10 finish in the final standings; I’m confident that with strong results and my fair share of luck I can achieve it.

“I’ll need a strong race to cut the gap in France; especially on the event’s notoriously demanding surfaces which can be very inconsistent and this rally requires strict concentration at all times – it’s important to not to lose rhythm as the conditions vary. Many of my direct rivals, like Dani, are sealed surface specialists and far more experienced on tarmac. I will have to be on top form to disrupt their challenges.”

Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) backed Al Qassimi, dubbed the ‘The Flying Falcon’ by the international rally community, will once again team-up with Northern Irish co-driver, Michael Orr, in France.

Team Abu Dhabi juniors, Bader Al Jabri and Majed Al Shamsi - runners in the Production World Rally Championship (PWRC) - are not in action until the season’s penultimate round in Spain from October 20-23.

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