2012 FIA Middle East Rally Championship, round 1: Qatar International Rally

Doha, January 07 (QNA) - Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari has put together an exciting deal to enter a new Mini S2000 in this month s Qatar International Rally, round one of the 2012 FIA Middle East Rally Championship. The Qatari has agreed to use the car on the Al-Wakra-based event, which is being organised by the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) and takes place on January 26-28. Built by Prodrive in England, the S2000 will be run on the all-desert event by Istanbul-based Toksport, which will field a team of Turkish mechanics and an engineer from Prodrive. Al-Kuwari won four rounds of the Qatar national rally series in 2011 in a Toksport-prepared Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X and clinched the series in December. The Doha-based driver will be partnered by Nasser Al-Kuwari and has also confirmed exciting plans to tackle a programme of rallies in this year’s seven-round regional series. "We are delighted to be running Abdulaziz and Nasser in the new Mini in Qatar," enthused Seyhun Duru of Toksport Ltd. "We have worked together in the Qatar national championship and are confident that we can push for honours in the international series." Toksport also runs Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport BMWs in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC), customers in Turkish touring car racing and privateers competing in the Turkish rally series. The company also guided Burcu Cetinkaya and her co-driver Cicek Guney to fifth place in the recent Dubai International Rally and are the authorised Prodrive suppliers in Turkey. The QMMF is offering an assistance package to international entrants in the Qatar International Rally. Teams will be offered four nights free accommodation (room and breakfast) in one twin-bedded room for driver and co-driver at the Century Hotel in Doha. Check-in will be on January 25 and checkout on January 29. (QNA)