Attiyah stamped his authority on the 33rd Dubai International Rally Saturday with a stunning second leg display which saw him win not only the event, but also the FIA Middle East Rally Championship, for the seventh time. A breathtaking surge by the Qatari in his Ford Fiesta S2000 saw him set the fastest times on each of the day's six special stages to end Rashid Al-Ketbi's brave bid for a home victory over UAE National Day weekend. Overnight leader Al-Ketbi produced another immaculate drive in his Skoda Fabia S2000, but was powerless to prevent Al-Attiyah from defending his Dubai Rally title as he fought back from a difficult first leg which he had finished in the fourth spot, 46.9 seconds off the lead. He reached the finish holding a winning margin of 37.7 seconds from Al-Ketbi, with another UAE driver, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Qassimi, just nine seconds further away in third place. Driving another Ford Fiesta S2000, Al-Qassimi had also given everything in an effort to produce an Emirati winner to mark his country's 40th Anniversary celebrations. Completing a wonderful international rallying comeback, six years after retiring from the sport, Oman's Hamed Al-Wahaibi took his Group N Mitsubishi Evo X to fourth place ahead of five-time Turkish ladies rally champion, Burcu Cetinkaya, who was competing in her first Dubai Rally. Partnered by Cicek Guney, Cetinkaya now plans to contest next year's FIA Middle East series, and this is certainly a combination worth watching. The top six was completed by Kuwait's Mshari Al-Thefiri in another Mitisubishi Evo X.
