Nissan Middle East and Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Co., its exclusive dealer in Qatar, extended their commitment and support to Qatari rally drive Adel Hussain Abdulla by sponsoring him as he takes his championship-wining driving to the World Rally Championship (WRC) 2016. The sponsorship deal, underpinned by a new Nissan Patrol XE for the WRC, also provides complete race support and covers all expenses incurred including parts and technical support. Speaking after the signing, Samir Cherfan, Nissan Middle East's Managing Director, said: "Motorsport is in the DNA of Nissan, which makes it vitally important for us to support champion racers around the world. Adel is an exceptionally talented driver and a credit to the region as a whole. He has already enjoyed extensive success in Middle East championships with the Patrol, and we support his ambitious attempts to take on the World Rally Championship by continuing to drive in the ‘Hero of all Terrains in Life'." Qatar-based Abdulla has been competing in rallies as co-driver and driver for the past 26 years, taking part in more than 140 international and regional events. He has become a regular fixture on the podium, too, having taken top honors in the Kuwait International Rally, Qatar's International Baja and Saudi Arabia's Ha'il International Rally – some of the world's toughest motorsport challenges – as well as numerous top three finishes in cars and on quad bikes. This year will see Abdulla participate for the first time in the FIA World Rally Championship with French co-driver Jean-Micheal Polato, who brings a wealth of experience having competed in many WRC events. The duo will also be supported by the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF). The Nissan Patrol is very familiar to Abdulla, who drove it to first place in the T2 category of this year's Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, as well as competing in it on the Sealine Cross-Country Rally in his homeland, Qatar. He is currently second place in the T2 Championship rankings and is aiming to take first, which would secure Nissan's second overall win in a row, after Denis Berezovsky's victory in 2015, also supported by Nissan Middle East. "Nissan's heritage in motorsport is long, rich and diverse," concluded Cherfan. "And rallying, while extremely tough, is what the Patrol is designed and built to cope with. It is this region's favorite all-terrain vehicle and enjoys a fiercely loyal fan base thanks, in part, to the impressive performances the model puts in each year on the world rally stages. We wish Adel every success and look forward to seeing both him and the new Patrol displaying their enormous abilities in some of the world's most challenging competitions." During the 2016 season, Abdulla's Nissan Patrol will be prepared, maintained and supervised by the leading Turkish motorsport company, TOK Sports.
