Saudi Arabian driver Yasir Seaidan looking for podium finish in Dubai rally race

Saudi Arabia’s Yasir Seaidan is competing this weekend in the Dubai International Baja. (Screenshot)
Updated 08 March 2018
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Saudi Arabian driver Yasir Seaidan looking for podium finish in Dubai rally race

DUBAI: Be it brakes, bones or personal bests, cross-country rally drivers are accustomed to breaking things. Saudi Arabia’s Yasir Seaidan, however, is out to break something else this weekend at the Dubai International Baja.
Seaidan, who is competing in his third season of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies, is intent on breaking the cycle and escaping from the fifth-place ranking that has come to be his own.
Fifth overall in last year’s championship, the 40-year-old finished fifth again in the opening round of the season in last month’s Baja Russia — Northern Forest. When he lined up on Thursday for the opening ceremony at Dubai Autodrome in his Toyota Hilux Overdrive — seeded fifth, naturally — he will be thinking only of the podium.
“Dubai is the only Baja with dunes and I’m good on dunes,” said Seaidan ahead of the three-day event that runs through the unforgiving Al Qudra desert. “The weather is perfect there at this time of year so I can be quite confident. Last year, I competed in the T2 category and finished third, so although I’m competing in T1 this year, I hope to do that again.”
His highest finish in the T1 category is, somewhat predictably, fifth. “I really hope I’m not stuck in this position,” he added.
According to organizers, the event will feature 88 drivers from 19 countries, competing in a range of vehicles, from T1 and T2 to quads, bikes and buggies. Seaidan, who started racing quads in 2002 before switching to cars in 2012, balances his racing career with senior roles in real estate, tourism and a motorsport company.
“To be racing all the year round for sure makes me need to work harder when I go back to the office,” he said. “But I’m trying to do my best to balance racing and working. My colleagues take some interest, but most believe that racing is too hard for them.”
The same cannot be said for Saudi Arabia’s newly-empowered female population. Soon to be permitted to drive unaccompanied, Saudi women are starting to show an interest in racing too. Seaidan says he will not be surprised if one day in the not-too-distant future, he is preparing to race in a field that includes women from his native country.
“Some girls in Saudi Arabia have already started asking how they can be a rally driver, so I believe in a few years you will see Saudi girls racing, yes,” he said.
It would be another milestone in what is proving a burgeoning motorsports industry in the Kingdom. Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, a 34-year-old racing driver and Red Bull athlete, has been given the role of vice-chairman of the General Authority of Sport and last month Riyadh’s King Fahd International Stadium hosted the annual two-day Race of Champions. Although it was incorrectly billed as the country’s first international motorsport event, it was the first time in the event’s 30-year history that it had taken place in the Middle East.
“Everybody in Saudi Arabia loves motorsport, so the Race of Champions is just one more thing we can be proud of,” said Seaidan. “We currently have three rallies and the Saudi Motorsports Federation plans to increase this to five by next year. In 2008, the country hosted the Hail Baja (the opening round of that season’s FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas), so I’m sure with the way things are going the federation will be planning to bring it back to the calendar soon.”
Saudi also has the Reem International Circuit on the outskirts of Riyadh.
“I think the future is bright for Saudi motorsport,” said Seaidan, “But first I need to do a good job in Dubai and get that podium.”

60 SECONDS WITH SEAIDAN
Favorite Driver: Jean-Louis Schlesser, French racing driver who has competed in touring cars, sports cars, cross-country and Formula One. Although he only competed in one F1 grand prix, he is renowned as the driver who stopped McLaren completing a perfect season in 1988. While being lapped by Ayrton Senna, Schlesser locked his brakes, crashed into the Brazilian and ended the race leader’s afternoon.




Jean-Louis Schlesser

Favorite Race: Rallye Oilibya du Maroc. One of the most visually stunning races on the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country calendar, the Moroccan event is often cited as Africa’s greatest rally race. First held in 2000, the event is set amid the Atlas Mountains and has been won a record four times by Schlesser. Qatari Nasser Al Attiyah equalled the Frenchman’s record last year and is expected to return this October to try and claim it for himself.




Rallye Oilibya du Maroc. (AFP)

 


Benzema shines as leaders Al-Ittihad thrash Al-Ettifaq

Updated 4 sec ago
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Benzema shines as leaders Al-Ittihad thrash Al-Ettifaq

  • In his first league appearance after missing the last four games through injury, the French forward had the ball in the net after 27 minutes

JEDDAH: Karim Benzema returned to action in style Saturday as Al-Ittihad won 4-0 at Ettifaq, scoring one and recording two assists to help the leaders stay on top of the Saudi Pro League.

In his first league appearance after missing the last four games through injury, the French forward had the ball in the net after 27 minutes. A beautiful short pass inside the area from N’Golo Kante took out three defenders to leave Benzema to sweep home from close range but VAR ruled that he had been just offside.

The roles were reversed eight minutes later and this time the goal stood. Benzema picked up possession in a crowded situation just outside the area, slipped a little pass to his right for Kante to burst into the box in a central occasion to fire home a low shot.

Eight minutes after the restart, Benzema got his goal. Marek Rodak got down well to save a fierce shot from Steven Bergwijn and there was the French striker to show his goal scoring instinct to pounce upon the rebound to put the ball into an empty net. It was a ninth goal of the season that puts him level with Cristiano Ronaldo in the standings, three behind Al-Hilal’s Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Two more goals came in quick succession midway through the second half. After 66 minutes Houssem Aouar made it three and then Bergwijn added to Ettifaq’s pain four minutes later, running clear of the defence to score after a fine pass from Benzema.

It was harsh on the home team who have now gone nine league games without a win. The pressure was already on head coach Steven Gerrard but the Liverpool legend and his team are now just three points clear of the relegation zone. Next comes a tricky away trip to Al-Khaleej.

Al-Ittihad meanwhile are riding high.


Barcelona lose at home for 1st time this season, falling 2-1 to Las Palmas

Updated 30 November 2024
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Barcelona lose at home for 1st time this season, falling 2-1 to Las Palmas

  • Barcelona had played superbly in the first three months under new coach Hansi Flick
  • They have now gone three rounds of La Liga without a win

BARCELONA: Barcelona lost at home for the first time this season when the Spanish league leader were stunned 2-1 by Las Palmas on Saturday.
Barcelona had played superbly in the first three months under new coach Hansi Flick and were flying high after convincing victories over Real Madrid in the domestic competition and Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
They had won all eight home games overall.
But they have now gone three rounds of La Liga without a win. Prior to the loss to Las Palmas, they fell 1-0 at Real Sociedad and drew 2-2 at Celta Vigo.
Madrid, despite their own troubles especially in the Champions League, can now move ahead of Barcelona in the Spanish league. They trail Barcelona by four points with two games more to play.
Sandro Ramirez and Fábio Silva scored for the Canary Islands club on either side of Raphina’s equalizer.
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal returned from a right ankle injury that had sidelined with for three weeks as a halftime substitute, but Jasper Cillessen saved his best shot. The Las Palmas goalkeeper also did well to palm a Raphinha free kick over his bar in the final minutes.


Norris hands Piastri the win in Qatar sprint as McLaren closes in on the F1 constructors’ title

Updated 30 November 2024
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Norris hands Piastri the win in Qatar sprint as McLaren closes in on the F1 constructors’ title

  • Norris started on pole position and kept the lead at the start as Piastri squeezed past the Mercedes of George Russell for second

LUSAIL, Qatar: McLaren neared its first Formula 1 constructors’ title in 26 years as Lando Norris handed Oscar Piastri victory in a one-two finish for the team in the sprint race at the Qatar Grand Prix on Saturday.
Norris started on pole position and kept the lead at the start as Piastri squeezed past the Mercedes of George Russell for second.
Norris gave the lead to Piastri with the finish line in sight, paying his teammate back for gifting him a win in the sprint race in Brazil when Norris was still fighting Max Verstappen for the drivers’ title. Russell finished third.
Verstappen — crowned the drivers’ champion last week in Las Vegas — finished eighth and his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez was last after a pit stop to change his car’s nose.
Qualifying takes place later Saturday for Sunday’s Grand Prix race.


Mbappe’s problem is Real Madrid’s problem, says Ancelotti

Updated 30 November 2024
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Mbappe’s problem is Real Madrid’s problem, says Ancelotti

  • “Mbappe’s problem is the problem that we all have. The idea is to try to give our best version, not just of him but myself, other players,” Ancelotti told a news conference
  • “It’s not a problem about one player”

MADRID: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Saturday superstar striker Kylian Mbappe’s struggles this season are due to his team’s overall lack of consistency.
The French forward missed a penalty as Spanish and European champions Real Madrid lost on Wednesday in the Champions League against Liverpool, their third defeat in five matches in the competition.
Mbappe, who joined in the summer at the end of his Paris Saint-Germain contract, was criticized for his performance and has netted just two goals in his last nine games for Madrid.
“Mbappe’s problem is the problem that we all have. The idea is to try to give our best version, not just of him but myself, other players,” Ancelotti told a news conference ahead of Sunday’s La Liga clash against Getafe.
“It’s not a problem about one player, the problem that we have is one of a team that has not been capable of being consistent. It’s not a problem about one player.
“We have to try and improve that, do everything we can... among other things (Mbappe) is new here and adapting, among other things he’s scored eight goals and has participated in attack, giving assists.
“Yes he can play better, but we can all do better and we will try to.”
Mbappe was not included in the last two France squad lists and has also had off-field issues to deal with during his first months at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“He is absolutely not sunken, he knows he has to improve like we all do... he’s being scrutinized after the Liverpool game because he missed a penalty, like many of my players have,” continued Ancelotti.
The coach said the Liverpool defeat was partly due to losing players through injury, including Vinicius Junior, Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao among others, but that Brazilian winger Rodrygo was fit to face Getafe.
Madrid, second, trail La Liga leaders Barcelona by four points, albeit having played one fewer match.
“I am like Mbappe, I am trying to give my best version,” said Ancelotti.
“Results say that I have not been capable of doing that. I’m not happy... but I’m convinced we will fix it, like we always fix it.”


Aspiring GCC drivers make the most of GT World Challenge

Updated 30 November 2024
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Aspiring GCC drivers make the most of GT World Challenge

  • The so-called SAL GT Jeddah 2024 marks a crucial juncture for many of the GCC young drivers as they look to step up from regional to global competition

Jeddah: The Fanatec GT World Europe Challenge has always been a highlight of the racing calendar as a chance for drivers to demonstrate their skills around the world’s most challenging circuits, and this year’s final round in Jeddah featured a diverse grid of international drivers.

The so-called SAL GT Jeddah 2024 marks a crucial juncture for many of the GCC young drivers as they look to step up from regional to global competition.

Six of the contenders vying to leave an impact this weekend are already a part of this year’s challenge and looking forward to achieving positive results. They are: Reema Al-Juffali, Bandar Alesayi, Fahad Al-Gosaibi, Ahmed bin Khanen, from Saudi Arabia; and Ahmad Alharthy and Al-Faisal Al-Zubair, from Oman.

On Friday, the six drivers met the press and expressed their happiness at being part of this international challenge — to enjoy the experience behind the wheel on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, the world’s fastest circuit.

Bandar Alesayi explained that the championship and the cars were new to the drivers, but they knew a lot about the circuit. “It is a very strong championship and a tough competition but I will enjoy it,” he said.

Ahmed bin Khanen said: “We will strive to provide our best to achieve distinguished results. It is so great to compete against the best in the world.”

Fahad Al-Gosaibi, who proved his skills in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, said that his 20 years in Porsche racing in the Gulf region would be an incentive to achieve his ambition of first place as he chases the best performance during the Fanatec GT competition being held in his homeland.

“We really appreciate the great support we all receive as Saudi drivers from the Ministry of Sports and the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation,” he said.

Reema Al-Juffali said that the generous support of the Ministry of Sports and the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation provided the drivers with a great incentive in all motor sports championships. Al-Juffali said that she would seek to achieve a distinguished place in the competition, noting that GT events were the first step toward reaching her dream of representing the Kingdom in this race.

Omani driver Ahmed Al-Harthy said: “The GT race is the most difficult championship in the world because there are 49 cars on the track at the same time.” Al-Harthy said that the Kingdom’s hosting of major motorsports championships such as Formula 1, Formula E, and now GT, was a source of pride and gave hope to Gulf youth who aspired to participate in these races.

His countryman, Al-Faisal Al-Zubair, said that his team was ranked second in the chance to win the challenge on Saturday. “It will be a great joy if we win the championship from the land of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is like our country,” he said.

He praised the Kingdom’s ability to host many of the most important international competitions such as the Dakar Rally, Formula 1, and others.