(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Despite mechanical problems troubling both Omani drivers – Khalid Soomar and Hamid al Qasimi - in the final round of the 2017 UAE Rally Championship, the duo did enough to finish on the podium of the Group N category recently.
Competing in the Fujairah Rally on Friday, Soomar finished fourth in the final rally of the championship to ensure his overall runner-up finish.
Qasimi's car broke down and had to retire in the first stage but the points garnered in the earlier rounds helped him climb the podium at third spot.
A file photo of Hamid al Qasimi in action during one of the UAE rally
Soomar teamed up with his co-driver Issa al Wardi while Qasimi had Mohammed al Mazroui as his navigator during the rallies. Group N leader Sheikh Mohamed al Qasimi of the UAE won the title.
Oman's Qasimi's Mitsubishi Evo 8 engine caught fire after just 2.8km from the starting point.
Soomar too had problems with his engine but finished the race. He said, 'I am happy to finish the rally despite facing a lot of problems. I am glad to be overall runner-up.'
Qasimi said, 'I am very disappointed to quit the rally early due to fire in my engine. But it happens in motorsport.'
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