AL-ATTIYAH LOOKS TO WORLD RX
Qatari looks to mixed-surface future after positive test session in skoda fabia
Two-time Dakar winner and former World Rally driver Nasser Al-attiyah is closing on a deal to race a Skoda Fabia in the World Rallycross Championship next season.
The Olympic medallist drove ES Motorsport’s new Fabia Supercar at the Bikernieki circuit in Latvia last week alongside Kevin Abbring, the former Hyundai WRC driver working as test driver for the squad.
The team used the Latvian circuit for its first test to compare times with the World RX event from the previous weekend and was happy with its performance.
“To be honest it’s gone better than expected,” team manager Ramunas Fetingis told Motorsport News. “Already from the very first laps I can tell you that we can get to the European Championship finals, so it’s quite OK for us. We’re really happy.”
The Lithuanian squad is working with Al-attiyah to finalise plans to contest World RX.
“Nasser is really good in other races and he’s enjoying the rallycross car now,” said Fetingis. “We didn’t sign the contract yet, but we are really confident that we will see a new face in World RX next year. I cannot officially announce that Nasser is coming but he is really happy with the car, with the team and we are happy with his performance so we are doing everything to make a deal for next season.”
Built between Czech firm Blue Engineering and French company Vaison Sport, the squad will continue testing in the coming weeks, but say Al-attiyah’s busy schedule is making that a challenge.
“We are dealing with Nasser because his calendar is really, really tight,” said Fetingis. “Maybe we will test after the World RX in Germany. If we will not succeed then maybe we will go to France. Now it’s just to do everything to find more speed.”