Qatar's Nasser Al-Attiyah Wins Second Position in Sealine Cross-Country Rally

Sealine, Qatar, April 22 (QNA) - Qatars Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah, Dubai-based Briton Sam Sunderland and Qatars Mohammed Abu Issa won the punishing 396.46km second selective section of the Sealine Cross-Country Rally on Tuesday. Al-Attiyah, Spaniard Marc Coma and Abu Issa hold the unofficial outright leads in the car, motorcycle and quad categories. Al-Attiyah and French co-driver Matthieu Baumel led from start-to-finish in their Mini All4 Racing and managed to extend their overall lead to 24min 29sec over Saudis Yazeed Al-Rajhi and his German co-driver Timo Gottschalk in an Overdrive Toyota Hilux. "It was a good day, no problems," said the Qatari. "To be the first car and open the road is not easy, but the feeling with the car was incredible. Matthieu did a great job for the second day. I pushed hard and I knew this would be a test for him as well. But it was a good job. Maybe I soften the rear suspension tomorrow to make the wheels travel better over the rocky ground, but I am not worried about opening again. I am very happy." For his part, Yazeed Al-Rajhi was upbeat despite losing his way three times. "I started well and was driving well," said the Saudi. "Then we lost our way. It is easy to do that in Qatar. There were three Minis going round and round until one of us found the track. I lost four or five minutes, but the goal was to be in front of Vladimir (Vasilyev) and I am doing that, so thats okay." Overnight motorcycle leader Joan Barreda was always going to struggle opening the stage and he reached the finish in sixth position, as Sunderland claimed the stage win and climbed from seventh overall to fifth.