Skydive's Al Ketbi to debut new Ford Fiesta R5 in Germany

Skydive Dubai Rally Team driver Rashid Al Ketbi and German co-driver Karina Hepperle are set to debut their brand new Ford Fiesta R5 in this weekend’s ADAC Germany Rally, round nine of this year’s FIA World Rally Championship (WRC).

The event starts in Cologne for the first time on Thursday afternoon on August 22.

The duo managed to shake down the new M-Sport-built car at a test session near Nancy in France last week and Al Ketbi is delighted with the results.

“It’s obviously different to the Skoda and will take a little getting used to, but we had an excellent test session and will spend some more time preparing before the start,” said the Fazza Rally Team star.

“Germany is a fast and demanding rally on difficult stages. The tracks through the vineyards will require complete concentration. Then we have the stages in the Baumholder and these are tricky. There may be mud and dust on the roads to add to the hazards and I will need to do well here to be competitive in WRC2.”

The Skydive Dubai Rally Team is running in the 2013 WRC under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, and is backing the UAE’s bid for EXPO 2020.

The event has received a makeover this year and starts from Cologne for the first time since it was introduced to the WRC in 2002.


 

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