Oman's Al Qasimi and Al Rashdi claim podium places at Um Al Quwain Rally in UAE

Muscat: Omani rallyists Hamid Al Qasimi and Faisal Al Rashdi clinched podium places at Um Al Quwain Rally, the second round of the UAE National Rally Championship, during the last weekend.
In the event, won by Sheikh Abdullah Al Qasimi, Hamid finished second while Faisal settled for the third place.
The rally, organised by UAE Motorsport Club, was a great success with 11 of the 15 participants completing the rally.
Hamid Al Qasimi and his co- driver Mohamed Al Mazroui clocked 37 minutes and 39.951 seconds for their second place finish.
Faisal Al Rashid and co-driver Waleed Al Rashdi timed 37 minutes and 40.390 seconds.
The rally has started in front of Directorate of Traffic of Um Al Quwain and concluded at the same place. The rally consisted of two stages, repeated three times with two services in between.
The stages took place mostly in the sand, where many spectators waited near the coastal side of Um Al Quwain to watch the action.
Speaking after the rally, Hamid Al Qasimi thanked all those who supported him ahead of the rally.
He also thanked his technical team, friends and the organising committee as well as the local citizens who cheered him during the event.
“It's a pleasure and privilege to be in the podium and receive the second place trophy and to represent my country in these kinds of activities in the UAE. I am very happy to share this celebration with my colleagues and friends," Hamid said.
He added: “We drivers spend a lot of money from our own pockets, especially when we are participating in the rallies outside of Oman as we don’t get enough sponsorship and support from public and the private sector companies. We hope that in future we get the right kind of support from concerned organisations and government entities like Ministry of Sport Affairs and Oman Automobile Association."
Faisal Al Rashdi, meanwhile, echoed Al Qasimi’s views and stressed the need for the drivers to have the financial support.
"It is very important to have enough finance resources to participate in these events and I would like to thank my current sponsors and my family for their continued support," he said.