13:00 – Results by stage: SS2, SS3, SS4, SS5, SS6, SS7, SS8, SS9, SS10, SS11, SS12, SS13.
12:30 – Abu Dhabi Racing’s Khalid Al Qassimi wins the 13th and final stage, finishing 2nd overall despite a broken drive shaft earlier today. Khalifa Al-Attiyah ends up third ahead of Group N class winner Salah Bin Eidan, and Khalid Al Suwaidi. Here are the top 5 provisional final results.
12:20 – Nasser Al-Attiyah and co-driver Matthieu Baumel successfully goes through the final special stage and takes his 12th victory at the QMMF Qatar International Rally!
12:05 – We have confirmation that Yazeed Al Rajhi is out of the rally. He was running second overall and was the only man to win a stage so far other than Nasser Al-Attiyah.
11:50 – Mitsubishi Evo 9 driver Kuwait’s Salah Bin Eidan is on course for a Group N victory. The timing screen shows he’s fourth overall behind Nasser Al-Attiyah, Khalid Al-Qassimi and Khalifa Al-Attiyah. Is Yazeed Al Rajhi in trouble? His name is yet to appear.
11:10 – Al-Attiyah has struck back in the eleventh special stage. He’s gone fastest and the gap is now back up to a full minute.
10:20 – Abu Dhabi Racing on Instagram: Wasn’t the best loop but Sheikh Khalid bin Faisal Al Qassimi and Chris Patterson showed the fighter spirit driving SS9 and SS10 with broken drive shaft. Still 3rd overall. #Qatarinternationalrally
9:20 – Yes, someone has put an end to Al-Attiyah’s string of stage victories, and it’s Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed Al Rajhi who went 34 seconds faster than anyone in SS10! The gap is down from 1 minute 30 seconds to 55 seconds between him and Al-Attiyah. Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari has stopped in the stage with terminal engine problems.
9:05 – Nasser Al Attiyah completes SS10, today’s third stage, in 15 minutes 28.7 seconds. Can anybody put an end to his string of stage victories?
8:55 – All competitors are safely through the ninth special stage. Click here for the results.
8:30 – Nasser’s domination has continued into the ninth special stage. The Qatari goes quickest, but just 0.6 seconds clear of Khalid Al Suwaidi who has gone second fastest. In case you missed it, here’s a video of Al-Attiyah’s Day 1 action.
8:10 – Abdulaziz Al Kuwari is second fastest, just a second slower than Al-Attiyah, while Yazeed Al Rajhi has set the third fastest time. Here are the SS8 results.
8:00 – The second and final leg of the Qatar International Rally has kicked off. Nasser Al-Attiyah is quickest through the opening stage (SS8) and the gap to his rivals is now 1 minute 20 seconds.
Saturday, February 7, 2015
14:40 – Results by stage: SS2, SS3, SS4, SS5, SS6, SS7.
14:20 – It appears that Khalifa Al-Attiyah has suffered from an axle problem in his Ford Fiesta RRC, while Salah Bin Eidan’s Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 has reportedly stopped in the last stage. Here are the overall results at the end of Day 1.
13:50 – Nasser Al Attiyah has completely dominated the first day of the Qatar International Rally, winning all six special stages and creating a 1 minute 17 second gap to his competitors.
13:15 – It’s another stage victory for Nasser Al Attiyah in SS6, he beat Khalid Al Qassimi by 4 seconds and extended his overall lead to 1 minute 5.4 seconds ahead of Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari who remains 2nd overall.
12:45 – Nasser Al-Attiyah’s quickest in SS5 for the time being, just 1 second faster than Abu Dhabi Racing’s Khalid Al Qassimi who clearly put his puncture woes behind him.
12:20 – Iran’s Mohammed Ghalehbani’s rally has come to a premature end, he retired on SS4, which leaves a total of nine cars.
12:15 – Leg 1’s second loop will start in just a few minutes. In the meantime, here are the overall results after today’s third special (SS4).
11:30 – Citroen DS3 driver Khalid Al Qassimi had a flat tyre in the second stage today (SS3) and lost a significant chunk of time as a result. Al Kuwari has had a similar misfortune in SS4.
11:00 – The first loop of the first leg has come to an end. Here are the stage results: SS2, SS3, SS4.
10:20 – Nasser Al-Attiyah has managed to increase his lead to 50 seconds after today’s third special (SS4). Abdulaziz Al Kuwari remains second overall but he’s just 0.50 seconds ahead of Yazeed Al Rajhi. It looks like it’s going to be an exciting fight for the runner-up spot.
10:00 – Yazeed Al Rajhi was third fastest in the 19.39-kilometer special and he’s third overall at the moment.
9:50 – Nasser Al Attiyah has taken the Qatar International Rally lead after setting the quickest time in today’s second special stage (SS3), beating Khalid Al Suwaidi by 16 seconds. Abdulaziz Al Kuwari is second overall, 40 seconds behind the leader.
9:30 – Mohammad Ghalehbani is through the special in 13:46.30 – he’s made history as he’s the first Iranian competitor to complete a stage in the Middle East Rally Championship.
9:20 – Abdulla Al Kuwari has gone quickest, completing the first special in 9:53.30 – almost 38 seconds faster than Nasser Al-Attiyah who’s second, followed by Abdulaziz Al Kuwari.
8:55 – The first special is being held in Umm Wishah and it is 21.63 kilometers long.
8:50 – The first special stage of the Qatar International Rally starts in 3 minutes. Nasser Al-Attiyah and co-driver Mathieu Baumel will be the first out. We have some lovely pictures for you from yesterday’s ceremonial start.
Friday, February 6, 2015
15:30 – We have pictures from the scrutineering and pre-rally press conference online. Check them out here. Also, in case you missed it, here‘s a video from Nasser Al Attiyah’s test and reconnaissance.
13:00 – The 2015 Qatar International Rally press conference will get underway in 5 minutes. All drivers are present in the conference room except for Khalid Al Qassimi, Abdulaziz Al Kuwari and Abdullah Al Kuwari.
11:40 – The rally will be contested by 12 competitors, including two drivers from Iran – a first for the Middle East Rally Championship.
11:20 – Good morning! The opening round of the 2015 Middle East Rally Championship is taking place this weekend in Qatar and we’ll be covering the whole thing, bringing you frequent updates from the event.
Thursday, February 5, 2015