Middle East Rally Icon Set for First-Ever Drive in Ford Puma Rally1
After securing his 20th Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) title following the Rally of Lebanon, Nasser Al-Attiyah is set to return to the pinnacle of the FIA World Rally Championship. The Qatari legend will drive an M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 at next month’s Rally Saudi Arabia, the season finale of the 2025 WRC calendar.
WRC Return After a Decade
Al-Attiyah last competed in the WRC in 2013, when he also raced with M-Sport. Prior to that, he was part of Citroën’s works team in 2012, regularly finishing WRC rounds inside the top five. However, the upcoming Saudi event marks his first-ever outing in a Rally1 car, the latest generation of hybrid-powered WRC machinery.
Testing the Puma Rally1 in England
To prepare for the event, Al-Attiyah will test the Puma Rally1 with M-Sport in the UK:
“I will test it in England, just to see how it’s going. But I think maybe I can do some really proper tests before the race,” he said. “If it’s allowed, we try to do our best. But I think, from my experience [of the Middle East], it will be really not big difference. The speed, yes, but I know what I will do.”
Partnering Again with Cándido Carrera
Al-Attiyah will be co-driven by Cándido Carrera, who was alongside him throughout the 2025 MERC season. The two will continue their partnership into Rally Saudi Arabia.
“I like to work with him,” said Al-Attiyah. “He did this year with me in the Middle East and won the Middle East Rally Championship.”
Home Region, Global Stage
Set in Jeddah, Rally Saudi Arabia will be a familiar challenge for Al-Attiyah, with terrain similar to the MERC events where he has built his legacy. His vast experience on desert and gravel stages could prove a significant advantage against the WRC regulars.
A New Chapter with M-Sport
This outing also marks a renewed collaboration between Al-Attiyah and M-Sport, a team known for nurturing rallying talent worldwide. With his decades of experience and recent championship momentum, Al-Attiyah’s WRC return is one of the most anticipated stories of the season finale.
