February 7, 2016 – Young Lebanese rally driver Rodolphe Asmar has made a fantastic Middle East Rally Championship debut by finishing on the Qatar International Rally podium yesterday.
It wasn’t a trouble-free rally for the 20-year-old Mitsubishi Evo IX driver and his co-driver Joseph Matar as a mechanical problem on Friday’s SS6 forced them to retire from Leg 1, when they were in a strong 7th place overall and 5th in Group N.
However, Rodolphe returned for Leg 2 on Saturday, setting competitive times and showing the same great consistency he showed on the first day to eventually finish the event in 5th overall and 3rd in Group N, thus enjoying a place on the podium in his first ever regional rally participation; he also received the Junior Cup.
Rodolphe is expected to appear in 3 more rounds of the Middle East Rally Championship, including Rally of Lebanon; his 2016 program also includes competing in the Lebanese Rally Championship in a Ford Fiesta R5.
Photo Credit: Rodolphe Asmar (picture above) and ATCL Motorsports (picture below).
