Attiyah fastest, edges closer to Andalucia Rally title
QATAR’S Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah edged closer to defending his title at the Andalucia Rally in Spain after he won the third and penultimate leg on Saturday.
The ace rally driver Attiyah and his French co-driver Matthieu Baumel in Toyota Hilux emerged fastest in the 283km route in 3:12.38 seconds.
Going into Sunday’s 284km final leg, Attiyah and Baumel hold a 4.43-second lead over local pair Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz.
Sainz and Cruz finished third in Mini Cooper behind Saudi’s Yazeed al-Rajhi and his German co-driver Dirk Von Zitzewitz, who were behind the wheel of Toyota Hilux.
Meanwhile, Nasser’s brother Khalifa Al Attiyah (South Racing) was on course to winning the T4 category.
Al Attiyah and co-driver avier Panseri, who had won the first and second leg, finished third on Saturday in their Can Am Maverick RS.
Leg 3 Results
1. Nasser Al Attiyah / Mathieu Baumel; Toyota Hilux; Time: 3:12.38 seconds
2. Yazeed Al Rajhi / Dirk von Zitzewitz; Toyota Hilux; +1.48
3. Carlos Sainz / Lucas Cruz; Mini John Cooper Works Rally; +3.17
4. Mattias Ekstrom / Emil Bergkvist; Mini John Cooper Works Buggy; +7.02
5. Erik van Loon / Sebastien Delaunay; Toyota Hilux; +10.09
6. Guillaume de Mevius / Tom Colsoul; OT3; +12.47
7. Paulo Ferreira / Jorge Monteiro; Toyota Hilux; +13.45
8. Mitchell Guthrie / Ola Floene; OT3; +14.42
9. Denis Krotow / Konstantin Zilcow; Mini John Cooper Works Rally; +16.02
10. Laia Sanz / Daniel Oliveras; Mini All4 Racing; +17.00.