Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah has taken the win at the opening event of the season, his sixth victory at the Qatar Cross Country Rally.
Al Attiyah won four of the six sections of his home rally and finished with over an 11 minute advantage over fellow Toyota Hilux driver Yazeed Mohammed Al-Rajhi.
Reigning champion Jakub Przygonski had been reeling in Al-Rajhi over the final day and won Tuesday’s leg but ran out of time to beat him to second place.
Post-rally Przygonski was disqualified for being 4kg below the minimum weight limit which the stewards deemed a breach of Article 8.7 of the FIA Cross Country General Prescriptions.
As such Vladimir Vasilyev was promoted to the final podium spot, finishing with a time 45 minutes slower than Al-Rajhi.
Fourth went to Yasir Hamad Seaidan, ahead of Bernhard Ten Brinke who continued his recovery from issues from earlier in the event.
Reinaldo Marques Varela took sixth, followed by Fedor Vorobyev and the only female competitor in the event Camelia Liparoti.
Eugenio Amos finished in ninth in his Ford 2WD Buggy despite being hindered by illness on Sunday.
Miroslav Zapletal takes 10th after Monday’s broken driveshaft.
