Sheikh Khalid bin Faisal Al Qassimi is currently 13th place overall at the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup Baja Aragona despite a series of setbacks that threatened to end his race.
Driving a modified Toyota Hilux by Overdrive Racing and in a collaboration between Abu Dhabi Racing and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Sheikh Khalid and co-driver Edouard Boulanger had to battle issues with the car, as well as illness, to secure their place from the 70 cars participating in the event. Sheikh Khalid had already secured seventh place in the Super Special Stage.
The second day of the competition consisted of two stages, with Sheikh Khalid completing stage 1 in 15th place, and stage 2 in 13th place, to provide his overall standing.
Sheikh Khalid said he was satisfied with his place, given the obstacles in his way.
“I was looking for a better result of course, but unfortunately my co-driver suddenly didn’t feel well,” Sheikh Kahlis said. “He lost his concentration and affected mine as well; we have lost a precious time. I stopped 3-4 times so he can breathe and relax and gain back his strength.
“We were also unlucky when the hydraulic jack suffered a malfunction forcing us to stop and fix it. In SS2 the situation was no better! Edouard was not feeling well at all so I had to slow the rhythm, and after 50 Km we had a puncture in the front right tyre, again we stopped to change the tyre and continued slower than we have planned.
“I’m simply not thinking about the result. My aim remains to continue the challenge and to get as much experience in this type of racing as I possibly could.”
Baja Aragón consists of four stages spread over three legs with a total length of 657.80km. The competition commenced with a Super Special Stage on Friday. Leg 2 consisted of two stages (152.2km and 305.5km) which are considered the most challenging of the event. Round 6 finishes on Sunday July 26th with 181.1km stage.
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