Raring to go

AFTER making the big switch from quad bike to car, Qatar’s Mohamed Issa Abu Issa is looking ahead with hope.

Mohamed Issa, who competed in two Dakar Rallies in a quad bike, will add a new feather to his cap in January, when he lines up in a four-wheel at the gruelling event. He will drive a buggy for the X-raid team at Dakar, which begins in Argentina on January 5.

And the 26-year-old got a hang of the experimental buggy in the penultimate round of the recent FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies in Morocco.

Mohamed Issa, who finished fourth on his Dakar debut in 2014, got a taste of what lies ahead for him as he challenged the dunes of Morocco for the first time in four wheels.

“It was a long and tough experience, and I enjoyed every bit of action. The rally challenge is never easy. I started well, but it was super tough in the second stage after losing my power steering. At one stage, I was second in the buggy category and 12th overall, but then I broke the steering rod. And then I had to start again,” Mohamed Issa recalled.

But despite the struggles, Mohamed Issa is looking at the positives.

“The Morocco event was my first-ever cross-country rally in the car category and I’ve learnt a lot. It was a test event for me as part of the Dakar build-up. Every kilometre was a good training,” he added.

Mohamed Issa is set to become the second Qatari, after legendary Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah, to compete in the cars section of Dakar and he was thrilled with the prospect.

“I can’t wait for Dakar to start! I’m looking forward to compete with the world’s best racers. I’m excited to be a part of the largest rally in the world. It’s a privilege to represent Qatar at this level and I feel proud of it,” said Mohamed Issa.

Apart from driving the buggy, Mohamed Issa will also be in charge of leading the development of their new X-raid car.

The next two months will see him fine tune his preparations as the big test looms.

“My terrain is yet to come! Dakar, even with years of experience is a big challenge and I’m relishing it,” he concluded. DSP