The BP Ford Abu Dhabi driver Sheikh Khaled Al Qassimi is putting his foot to the pedal and after only three stages this morning, Day Two of Rally de Espana, is already proving that he can fight his way back up the placings after an engine fire late on Day One pushed the emirati into SupeRally today. Al Qassimi continued to contest his closest Championship rival Conrad Rautenbach, recording faster times than him, and WRC podium contender Henning Solberg, in Stages Seven to Nine. Having started the day in 42nd position the Abu Dhabi rally driver has impressed by moving up an incredible 18 places to lie in 24th at mid day.

After an exciting and consistent start on the fast and twisting asphalt yesterday Al Qassimi was forced into retirement in Stage Five after a small fire broke out in the engine of his Ford Focus. To the dismay of the Emirati ace and his co-driver Michael Orr a problem had developed during earlier stages and a resulting oil leak had caused the fire. At the time the pair were hotly competing against closest rival Rautenbach, keeping ahead of him for the duration of the day’s stages and remaining in 11th place until the incident.

However, as always the Abu Dhabi team driver has a professional and expert team of mechanics behind him who were able to repair the damage last night and Al Qassimi continued his pursuit of points. With the rally only half way through, and after the drama of previous rounds of the WRC, there is every chance that circumstances can change dramatically and he could put himself back in to contention.

Speaking about the incident the BP Ford Abu Dhabi team driver said, “ Smoke began emitting from the front of the car in Stage Four, we checked it and continued into Stage Five, but 2km down the tarmac it became a problem, and when we stopped and looked under the bonnet the engine was on fire. I am of course disappointed, but determined. There are still two days of rally left, and today I am taking back time wherever I can”.

Also competing in Spain are the Abu Dhabi Junior Drivers in the Fiesta Sporting Trophy (FSTi) who spent Day One getting to grips with the smooth surfaces and fast lines as they begun their first attack on an asphalt rally. The three got to grips with the terrain and the tight twists and sharp corners that typify the Rally de Espana, improving their all round rally skills and holding solid ground, until Stage Six at the end of the day. Abu Dhabi Junior Majed Al Shamsi misjudged one of these impressive corners and a dramatic front end roll ensued. Al Shamsi and his co-driver Alan Harriman emerged unscathed, and again the engineers behind the Abu Dhabi rally team managed to rebuild the car over night for Al Shamsi to continue his FSTi campaign.

The Abu Dhabi Juniors began today’s pursuit with experience, consistency and skill development their main drive. Bader Al Jabri and Ahmed Al Mansoori have gained confidence and begun to use this to push against their FSTi rivals. Solid performances from all three have provided impressive times this morning particularly on the rally’s longest stage, a 35km long asphalt challenge, which aided their placings at the mid way point of Rally de Espana. Al Jabri is currently holding fifth position, Al Mansoori is in sixth and Al Shamsi is making up time to take seventh.

“The Abu Dhabi team are displaying maturity in the way they have driven so far this rally,” commented Ahmed Hussein, Deputy Director General of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, the organisation behind the Abu Dhabi Junior Driver Development Programme. “The most important thing is that they continue to gain as much experience across all surfaces as possible. Rally Spain is a great opportunity for them to continue to grow their skills and build up more experience for Abu Dhabi drivers.”

At the front of the field Championship leader, BP Ford Abu Dhabi’s Mikko Hirvonen and reigning WRC World Champion Sebastian Loeb of Citroen continue their battle for top of the podium. Hirvonen currently lies in third place, but with three more stages remaining this afternoon, as well as one full day of rallying action this weekend, there is every chance for the BP Ford Abu Dhabi team and the Abu Dhabi Junior Drivers to push ahead and take back time.