Saudi Arabia’s leading rally driver Yazeed Al-Rajhi is to make a return to a full programme of FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) events this season, starting with a full assault at next weekend’s Qatar International Rally.
He and co-driver Michael Orr will use an M-Sport-prepared Ford Fiesta RRC this season, the car in which the Riyadh driver finished his first full season in the FIA SWRC Championship in third position last year.
The break from regional rallying has made Al-Rajhi a more accomplished driver and that was clearly demonstrated by his stage times on the recent MERC rallies in Jordan and Cyprus.
“I stopped my career in the Middle East Championship and went to the WRC to develop myself and gain more experience and professionalism because, if you want to compete with the fast drivers, you have to participate in external championships and practice more,” said the Saudi.
“My participation in the Middle East will not prevent me from taking part in the World Championship with the S2000 car, which will have a new name this year – WRC2. We now have a new system of freedom where drivers can choose which rallies to participate in.”
The Qatar International Rally is being organised by the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation and takes place on new stages to the north of Doha, with a new service park and a revised route. Action will take place on Friday, January 25th and Saturday, January 26th.
Al-Rajhi has already won three MERC rallies and several other FIA events and will be determined to start his 2013 title challenge with a win in Qatar this weekend.