Al-Kuwari emulates Ogier in Greece

Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari became the first driver since Sebastien Ogier in Mexico in March 2008 to score points on their debut outing in the FIA World Rally Championship when he finished 10th on the Acropolis Rally in Greece last week.

Ogier was tackling a WRC round for the first time when he inherited the final world championship point on offer in Mexico five seasons ago following Ricardo Trivino’s exclusion due to an irregularity over his driving gloves.

In Greece last week, Al-Kuwari steered his Seashore Qatar Rally Team MINI John Cooper Works WRC to 10th overall following an impressive showing in a car he’d never driven in competition before.

“A great result, I am very happy because this was the first WRC rally of my career,” said the Qatari afterwards. “My target was not to do [Rally 2] so I was happy with that. The second day of the rally was the most difficult day of my career and on the last part of the third stage it was extremely muddy. We went three times off the road, sometimes I drove like a taxi driver.”

Al-Kuwari, who reported pain in his back at the completion of day one, admitted he was surprised with this finishing position in Greece, adding that his car was “perfect” throughout. Italian navigator Nicola Arena co-drove Al-Kuwari.