Qatari Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah and his Spanish co-driver Alba Sánchez (Volkswagen Polo GTI) comfortably won the Oman Rally, the second round of the calendar, with an advantage of 15 minutes and 13.8 seconds over the Czechs Petr Kačirek and Václav Kopáček (Skoda).
Third place, more than 18 minutes behind the winners, went to Qatari Nasser Khalifa Al-Atya and his Italian co-driver Giovanni Bernacchini (Ford Fiesta).
It is the seventh victory for Al-Attiyah in this event and the 79th in this category, while the Spanish Alba Sánchez, who replaced the Qatari’s usual co-driver, Mathieu Baumel, becomes the third woman to win a race of these characteristics after the Czech Veronika Havelkova in 2018 and the Swedish Tina Thörner, also as co-pilot of Al-Attiyah in Qatar in 2009.
“It was important that we had a winning start here in Oman and I am very happy with this result. Today I was able to control the pace, avoid punctures and not take risks,” Al-Attiyah said.
“Alba replaced Mathieu and did a fantastic job. I am delighted for her and that she has obtained her first victory in the Middle East& rdquor ;, concluded the Qatari champion.