Dubai Rally - 3-5 Dec 09

LEBANONS NICHOLAI GEORGIOU CLAIMS PIRELLI STAR DRIVER AWARD FOR MIDDLE EAST REGION

Posted: December 7, 2009 11:15 AM

Lebanese driver Nicholai Georgiou claimed an emphatic victory in the Pirelli Star Driver competition, held in conjunction with the Dubai International Rally, the final round of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship on December 4-5.

Its obviously a great feeling to seal the Pirelli Star Driver here, said Georgiou. This is a major break through in my driving career. I came so close to winning last year and now I can look forward to an exciting season in 2010. It as a case of driving very carefully through those final stages, listening out for any strange noises, and making sure I reached the finish.

Georgiou went head-to-head over nine gravel special stages in the UAE deserts with Kuwaits Meshari Al-Thafiri to determine who would represent the region in the prestigious FIA World Rally Championship in 2010, courtesy of Pirellis Star Driver competition.

The contest was all but settled in Georgious favour on the very first Al-Rowdah stage. The Lebanese set the ninth fastest time, but Al-Thafiri dropped 20 minutes with serious technical problems and plummeted to the foot of the results standings heading into the second special stage at Seih Madam.

The Kuwaiti was unable to start the second stage, where Georgiou set the 12th fastest time and continued his cautious path towards the Pirelli title. Al-Thafiri needed to ensure that he restarted under SupeRally on Saturday, but even winning every stage on day two would not have been mathematically good enough for him to pip Georgiou to the award.

Georgiou finished the opening day in last place in the overall classification after his own problems and drove cautiously through the final four stages on Saturday. He was ninth quickest in Masfut and Seih Madam and held a position outside the top 10 in the overall standings. Al-Thafiri failed to restart and Georgiou was able to let the celebrations begin.

Georgiou had qualified for the final by winning the West Zone section of the Pirelli Star Driver competition in Syria. Al-Thafiri qualified through the Gulf zone event in Kuwait.

The Lebanese will now join winners from Europe, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region in the nominated WRC rounds of the 2010 Pirelli Star Driver competition in Jordan, Portugal, Finland, Germany, France and Great Britain.

Results

Posted: December 7, 2009 11:04 AM

Full Results

Results on line: Middle East Rally Championship (FIA)

Entry List & Details

Posted: December 1, 2009 5:30 PM

www.atcuae.ae/en/sporting/dubai_rally.html

Georgiou and Al-Thafiri head set for Pirelli Star Driver showdown at Dubai International Rally

Posted: November 29, 2009 6:27 PM

Lebanese driver Nicholai Georgiou and Kuwait’s Meshari Al-Thafiri will go head-to-head at next weekend’s Dubai International Rally to determine the destiny of this year’s Pirelli ‘Star Driver’ (PSD) Award for the FIA Middle East Rally Championship. The event takes place on December 3-5.  

The driver who amasses the most points from the two days at the final round of the regional rally series will join other regional heat winners from around the world in six rounds of next year’s FIA World Rally Championship.  

Georgiou lost out on victory in last year’s prestigious competition on a technicality to Cypriot Nicos Thomas, but the Lebanese youngster has been the most improved driver in the regional series this season and holds fourth place in the Drivers’ Championship heading to Dubai.  

He won the West Zone of the Pirelli Star Driver competition in Syria, while Al-Thafiri qualified for the regional final through the Gulf zone event in Kuwait back in March. Both are regular competitors in the region and it promises to be a thrilling showdown over the two days of gravel competition in the UAE deserts around Hatta and Sharjah.  

“I’m looking forward to the rally immensely,” said Georgiou. “I’ve been preparing very well both physically and mentally and I’m feeling relaxed and confident. I’m ready for a good battle to win the Pirelli award.”  

Al-Thafiri has been preparing meticulously for the Dubai encounter and will drive a new Group N Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX for the first time at the UAE event. Georgiou will team up with Lebanese co-driver Joseph Matar in a similar car.  

Ahmed Al-Mansoori was a third qualifier for the Dubai Pirelli Star Driver final, but the Team Abu Dhabi Junior driver will not take part in the regional finale.  

“All our Junior drivers will go to the UK for the Ford Fiesta Shoot-Out to be held over three days and also to test the R2 Fiesta for the 2010 Championship,” admitted team spokesman Ron Cremen. “Ahmed is also not competing in a competitive car and could not be judged equally over the desert terrain that you find in the Dubai International Rally.”  

The highest-placed of the two Pirelli Star Driver finalists in the overall results of the rally will be declared the winner and go forward with the other winners from Europe, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region to the WRC events that have been nominated as rounds of the 2010 Pirelli Star Driver competition - notably Jordan, Portugal, Finland, Germany, France and Great Britain.  

Regulations / Details

Posted: January 1, 2009 12:01 AM

Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) (Dubai Rally)