Faris Bustami is leading a four-car Jordanian challenge in this week’s Dubai International Rally, and he will be looking for a personal silver lining to the 2001 FIA Middle East Championship, according to a press release issued by the Dubai International Rally.
After winning the Jordanian national championship for the last two years, Bustami’s bid to complete a title hat-trick this year was foiled by Marouf Abu Samra, while he was not able to muster a serious challenge for the Middle East Group N title, according to the release.
He is one of 33 entrants from 12 countries in the 2001 Dubai International Rally, which is sponsored for a fourth year by Dubai’s newly re-named Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corp.
The event will be held under the patronage of Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Department (DCA) and chairman of Emirates Airlines.
The event is sponsored by Seven Seas Computers, GTS, and the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel, which will be the starting line when the rally starts on Wednesday.
Jordan was “bitterly disappointed” when its team was forced to withdraw from the event before the start in Dubai last year because of a cracked cylinder head.
Nancy Al Majali will be looking to beat Germany’s Edith Weiss to the ladies’ title this time, said the statement.
UAE-based Cypriot Nicholas Mandrides is another driver hoping for better fortunes in Dubai. In the build-up to last year’s event, he had to rebuild his Group A Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 6 after crashing out of the World Championship Cyprus Rally.
It was an expensive exercise, and his bad luck continued in Dubai when his car’s turbo blew 4km into the fourth special stage – Albawaba.com
