In what proved to be a punishing Dubai International Rally – the seventh and final round of the Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) - Team Abu Dhabi’s Bader Al Jabri finished an impressive 16th as the outfit’s three Junior Driver Development Programme (JDDP) recruits endured mixed fortunes on home soil.

With only four rallies under his belt, Al Jabri made light of his inexperience to safely navigate the demanding Dubai desert and reach the Al Mamzar finish having jumped seven positions on the final day.

“I’m really happy to have experienced and finished such a tough Dubai rally,” said the 22-year old. “Both days were really rough and all the stages were long. I had to find a balance between trying for speed and not taking too many risks - I feel like I have learnt so much in this event.”

Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) is backing the JDDP as part of its strategy to utilise rally to globally promote the UAE capital’s destination credentials, and Al Jabri is relishing the prospect of further regional and international competition with Team Abu Dhabi.

And with two JDDP drivers due to contest six European events in next year’s Ford Fiesta Sporting Trophy – a six-event championship which runs alongside the FIA World Rally Championship – Al Jabri’s Dubai success could well see him join programme mentor Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi in Portugal, Sardinia, Poland, Finland, Spain and Great Britain, where the UAE star will continue his WRC career with the BP-Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team.

“It would be amazing to do the Fiesta Cup events, but at the moment I am just happy to have finished another rally,” said Al Jabri.

“The JDDP syllabus is focused on learning and gaining experience through competition. The programme is designed to help the juniors in the long-term and with the support of ADTA’s Chairman, Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, and the guidance of Sheikh Khalid, we are well on the way.

“I’m happy to have finished well in Dubai but I’m not judged on where I cross the line. Of course, in the long-term I want to be winning events, but at the moment I’m trying to absorb as much as possible and use my lessons in practical rally situations,” added Al Jabri.

Team Abu Dhabi’s Majed Al Shamsi and Sultan Al Ameri both suffered overheating problems in their Abu Dhabi-branded Fiestas and were forced to retire from Saturday’s action.

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