Saleh Fareed JEDDAH — Saudi rally driver Ahmed Al-Sabban is returning to Kuwait Rally, the second round of the Middle East Rally Championship, after a two-year break. The round will be held in Kuwait from March 21-23. Hoping for better results, Al-Sabban told Saudi Gazette that he is heading to Kuwait with high hopes. “Well, it is going to be a tough year, but my ambition is to bring out the best in me and hope to finish good as I am returning to the rally world,” he said. The Saudi veteran driver, supported by Al-Rabie Saudi Dairy Company, feels enthusiastic and optimistic. “I am set for the new challenge since I am making a comeback after a long time,” he said. “I'm looking forward to testing in Kuwait next week because this is my first event in two years and it's important to get to know the conditions. The surface won't be as rough as in other cities so I won't have to worry about punctures, but we'll need to set up the car right for this rally,” he added. Getting underway this Thursday, the 2013 Kuwait International Rally features 12 special stages run over two days totaling 614.51 kilometers. Sheikh Khalid Al-Qassimi, on the other hand, believes this weekend's Kuwait Rally could produce a classic battle for supremacy between the Arab world's top drivers in what is arguably the strongest line-up in FIA Middle East Championship history. The UAE star's Abu Dhabi Citroën Total World Rally Team DS3 is one of 10 powerful Regional Rally Cars contesting the race. And while reigning Middle East champion Nasser Al-Attiyah and Al-Qassimi are seen as favorites, the Emirati driver believes at least two other contenders, Qatar's Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari and Saudi Arabia's Yazeed Al-Rajhi, could mount serious challenges for victory. “This could be the strongest ever Middle East rally,” said Al-Qassimi. “We have 28 cars, one more than the WRC Rally of Mexico last week and there's a lot of quality. “Most people seem to be focusing on Nasser and myself, especially after we finished first and second in the first round in Qatar. I think there are four or five drivers who could win. “Abdulaziz showed what he can do by winning the WRC2 title in Rally Mexico and Yazeed did the same in the previous round in Sweden. They are both fast and will be battling for every stage - they'll be hard to drop.”
