Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi climbs to ninth-place finish at Cross Country Rallies Baja Aragon

Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi in action during Day 3 at Barja Aragan. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Racing

Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi overcame the obstacles of the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies at Baja Aragon to climb to a final ninth place.

In just his second outing with Overdrive Racing Toyota Hiluxes, Abu Dhabi Racing’s Sheikh Khalid and co-driver Edouard Boulanger were affected by car issues and illness during Day 2 to finish 12th.

However, an improved showing on the final day saw the pair climb three places.

Elsewhere, fellow Overdirve Racing pair Reinaldo Varela and Gustavo Gugelmin led the way for the Belgium-based team with a solid fourth overall.

The retirement of Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah on the second of Saturday’s special stages meant that there was no change at the top of the points’ standings for the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies, after Vladimir Vasilyev was forced to miss out on competing after undergoing a heart procedure. The Russian Toyota driver maintains a 21-point lead in the title race.

“It was not an easy weekend and the technical regulations as they are make it even more difficult,” Overdrive team director Jean-Marc Fortin said. “But Reinaldo drove a very professional race and his speed over some of the technical sections was impressive. Sheikh Khalid also drove very well on his first ever Baja and reached the finish without problems. It was a good learning rally for him and that bodes well for the future.

“Results elsewhere maybe went our way as well and Vladimir (Vasilyev) still holds a good lead in the championship, so we are still very much in the game heading to Hungary for the next round.”

2015 Baja Spain Aragon — final positions:

1. Joan Roma (ESP)/Alex Haro (ESP) Mini All 4 Racing: 8hr 41 min 41 sec

2 Orlando Terranova (ARG)/Bernardo Graue (ARG) Mini All 4 Racing: 8hr 44 min 38 sec

3. Mikko Hirvonen (FIN)/Michel Périn (FRA) Mini All 4 Racing: 8hr 45 min 01 sec

4. Reinaldo Varela (BRA)/Gustavo Gugelmin (BRA) Overdrive Toyota Hilux: 9hr 05 min 34 sec

5. Ricardo Leal Dos Santos (POR)/Mykel Justo (BRA) Nissan Navara: 9hr 06 min 16se

6. Erik van Loon (NED)/Wouter Rosegaar (NED) Mini All 4 Racing: 9hr 07 min 12 sec

7. Alejandro Martins (PRT) /Jose Marques (PRT) Toyota Hilux: 9hr 16 min 32 sec

8. Marek Dabrowski (POL)/Jacek Czachor (POL) Overdrive Toyota Hilux: 9hr 17 min 49 sec

9. Khalid Al-Qassimi (ARE)/Edouard Boulanger (FRA) Overdrive Toyota Hilux: 9hr 19 min 07 sec

10. Miroslav Zapletal (CZE)/Maciej Marton (POL) Hummer H3: 9hr 22 min 27 sec

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