Marri and Ulster co-driver Chris Patterson lead a 19-strong international field into the Syrian International Rally, round three of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship, on Friday morning. In the absence of Qatar's Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah and the UAE's Sheikh Khalid Al-Qassimi – who are both tackling the Acropolis Rally in Greece – a new winner of the newest round of the regional series is guaranteed. Saudi Arabia's Yazeed Al-Rajhi and the UAE's Sheikh Abdullah Al-Qassimi should be Al-Marri's closest challengers over the 13 desert special stages on Friday and Saturday in the area around Deir Atiyah. Of the entered drivers, only Al-Qassimi and Lebanon's Michel Saleh have won a round of the regional series before and a new winner is highly likely on the 151st event in the history of the championship. Al-Marri will catapult himself into the outright championship lead if he can secure 10 points for victory this weekend and his chance of taking the regional title for the first time will be further bolstered by the news that Volkswagen cross-country rallying commitments in Brazil may well force Al-Attiyah to miss the forthcoming Rally of Lebanon as well. Mechanical problems cost Al-Rajhi crucial points in Kuwait in March, but the Saudi driver collected eight for second position in Qatar and is also eyeing a bid for the crown, in what could develop into the most open title race for years. Al-Qassimi finished second overall in Syria last season and had the measure of Al-Marri, so a fascinating three-way battle is in prospect for the podium places. Haitham Al-Yousefi and Ahmad Hamsho head the Syrian Rally Team and there is a strong presence from the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF). Joining Al-Marri on the entry list are Mubarak Al-Hajri, veteran Jaber Al-Marri, Khalid Al-Suwaidi, Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari and the 1993 regional champion, Sheikh Hamed Bin Eid Al-Thani. Nick Georgiou will be chasing regional championship and Pirelli ‘Star Driver'. The Lebanese driver missed out on the coveted Pirelli prize on a technicality last season and needs to finish in Syria to stake his claim on the championship and qualification for the Pirelli final in Dubai in December.
