Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi is optimistic of putting in a strong performance at Rally Sweden as he prepares to make his World Rally Championship (WRC) 2014 bow.
The Emirati will drive a Team Abu Dhabi Citroen in the event in Karlstad, which begins Wednesday, alongside teammates Mads Ostberg and Kris Meeke.
Sheikh Khalid, the chairman of Abu Dhabi Racing, has not competed in the WRC since Rally Spain last October, but he is encouraged by early test runs in Sweden as he prepares for the first of five WRC events this season.
“The runs we made today on board the Citroen Total Abu Dhabi were pretty successful, considering it is the first time I drive the DS3 WRC since Rally Spain last year,” he said.
“The tryouts were successful in terms of coordination between me and my new co-driver, Chris Patterson.”
This will be Sheikh Khalid’s fifth time competing in Sweden, with his best result coming in 2011 when he finished in 10th place.
Team Abu Dhabi Citroen will be looking to build on their promising start to the season, which saw Meeke finish third and Ostberg fourth in last month’s opening round of the season in Monte Carlo.
The event starts Wednesday with the opening special stage, before six stages are held tomorrow, a further nine on Friday, and proceedings conclude on Saturday with eight more stages.
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