Ahead of the launching of the first Full Arab WRC team we met Ala’a Rashid who will be driving the Ford Fiesta WRC in next year’s World Rally Championship. Check out this interview.
First of all Ala’a, we would like to salute you from Biser3a.com, and we thank you for inviting us to witness the launch of the very first Arab World Rally Championship team. Tell us more about the atmosphere today and what encouraged you for this adventure.
It’s a real pleasure having you here, we invited you people at biser3a.com because you are doing a great job, and you are always interested in regional drivers and Motorsport events, and that is mainly why we decided to invite you, so thank you for being here today.
The whole idea started after small tests between Smart Performance and Motortune, and we succeeded on several occasions such as Rally Kuwait, Rally of Lebanon and Jordan Rally as well, and that’s when we felt that we should expand our partnership; the whole team is fully Arab, the driver, co-driver and engineers. We would like to prove ourselves in the WRC, not just drivers from the Gulf region.
This is a first-of-its-kind participation…
Of course, we’re full Arab team, not just the drivers.
What is the whole purpose of this experience? There’s a huge program for next year, we already know that, but what is the aim?
Our first aim is to show people our technical skills, our driver’s and co-driver’s skills, the potential of a full Arab team in comparison to other foreign teams.
Motortune is a big team which has proven itself through Roger Feghali, ten-time Rally of Lebanon champion, through different Rallies and other drivers as well, so that’s when we decided to go through with this project.
Our main target is to participate of course, try to find areas where we can improve and benefit, discover any deficiencies, which I don’t think we have, and to gain experience for upcoming years.
On a personal level, you haven’t been participating for long.
Correct, this is my first year in the Middle East Rally Championship. I took part in Qatar Rally and Kuwait Rally, finished 10th in both, I also entered Rally of Lebanon which was my first tarmac experience. But we would like to participate in outside events, to learn and benefit from the different cars and courses. It’s more of an experimental year in order to see what we can do in upcoming years.
How would you describe your relationship with Roger Feghali? the chemistry between both of you, and how does it impact the partnership between Smart Performance and Motortune?
People are used to seeing drivers compete, and we are already competing, though in one spirit. The best thing is that there’s cooperation, whether it’s between myself and Roger or Smart Performance and Motortune, that’s what brought us together, Roger has great experience, we don’t, we’re benefiting from one another, we’re not arguing, we’re trying to be one, because there are lots of teams ahead of us, and we deserve to be ahead of these teams.
Alongside you will be Joseph Matar, he is one of the best co-drivers in Middle East history. How are your preparations with Joseph?
We’re starting our preparations in Rally Dubai, we might do Rally Dubai together, I’m not sure. We’re already in a strong relationship, but we’re trying to understand each other more, I’m watching Roger and Joseph’s videos, and he’s watching my videos, so we’re trying to find the closest path to success.
Prior to Jordan Rally, you have a test on Sunday. What are your plans for that test?
We’re gonna try to practice the things we’ve learned with Roger in Lebanon and Jordan, try to give our maximum, we’re competing in the Jordanian Championship and we’re 1 point behind Mazen Tantash in the standings, so it’s a critical rally. We need to be conservative and push at the same time.
A lot of people dream of driving a WRC car, at least for one rally. How do you feel now that you’ll be contesting a full season on a top tier car?
It’s a weird feeling, quite confusing, you’re happy, scared, anxious so it’s a mixed feeling, but in the end we have to learn and practice on the car in order for it to suit us.
