Nasser Al-Attiyah

Nasser Salih Nasser Abdullah Al-Attiyah (Arabic: ناصر صالح ناصر عبدالله العطية : nāṣir ṣāliḥ nāṣir ʿabdullāh al-ʿaṭṭīyah; born 21 December 1970 in Doha) is a Qatari rally driver and sport shooter. He was the 2006 Production World Rally Champion, 2014 and 2015 WRC-2 champion, an 18 time Middle East Rally Champion, five times winner of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies, and a five times (2011, 2015, 2019, 2022, 2023) Dakar Rally winner.[1] His five victories in the Dakar Rally make him the only Middle Easterner and West Asian to win the competition more than once.[citation needed]

Nasser Al-Attiyah
Personal information
Full nameNasser Saleh Nasser Abdullah Al-Attiyah
Born (1970-12-21) 21 December 1970 (age 53)
Doha, Qatar
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight82 kg (181 lb)
Sport
CountryQatar
SportRallying
Rally raid
Shooting
Achievements and titles
World finals
  • CCB 2008
  • CCB 2023
  • CCR 2008
  • CCR 2015
  • CCR 2016
  • CCR 2017
  • CCR 2021
  • W2RC 2022
  • W2RC 2023
  • Dakar 2011
  • Dakar 2015
  • Dakar 2019
  • Dakar 2022
  • Dakar 2023
  • P-WRC 2006
  • WRC2 2014
  • WRC2 2015
Medal record
Men's shooting
Representing  Qatar
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2012 London Skeet
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2002 Busan Skeet team
Gold medal – first place 2010 Guangzhou Skeet team
Silver medal – second place 2022 Hangzhou Skeet team
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Hangzhou Skeet
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Guangzhou Skeet
Asian Championships
Gold medal – first place 2001 Bangkok Skeet
Gold medal – first place 2006 Singapore Skeet
Gold medal – first place 2012 Doha Skeet
Silver medal – second place 1995 Jakarta Skeet
Silver medal – second place 2003 Delhi Skeet
Cross country rally
Representing  Qatar
World Rally-Raid Championship
Gold medal – first place 2008 Cross-country
Silver medal – second place 2014 Cross-country
Gold medal – first place 2015 Cross-country
Gold medal – first place 2016 Cross-country
Gold medal – first place 2017 Cross-country
Silver medal – second place 2019 Cross-country
Gold medal – first place 2021 Cross-country
Gold medal – first place 2022 Cross-country
Gold medal – first place 2023 Cross-country
FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas
Bronze medal – third place 2005 Bajas
Gold medal – first place 2008 Bajas
Bronze medal – third place 2020 Bajas
Gold medal – first place 2023 Bajas

In shooting, Al-Attiyah won the bronze medal in the men's skeet event at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Career edit

Rallying edit

Having been inspired to start racing by Formula One world champion Jackie Stewart's book Winning Is Not Enough, Al-Attiyah started competing in the Middle East Rally Championship in 2003, where he claimed 65 race wins and 13 titles.[2] He drove a Subaru Impreza until 2009 and a Ford Fiesta since 2010, except in 2012 when he drove Peugeot 207 in two rounds, and in 2016 when he drove a Škoda Fabia.[3][4]

Al-Attiyah also competed at the Production World Rally Championship from 2004 to 2009. He won the title in 2006,[5] his third year in the championship alongside co-driver Chris Patterson, driving a Subaru Impreza. He gained the championship lead after finishing second in the PWRC class in the Rally Mexico and afterwards won the following two rounds, Rally Argentina and Acropolis Rally. He also finished runner-up in 2005 and third in 2009. He scored his first points during the 2009 season, finishing eighth overall in the Rally Argentina.[citation needed]

In 2010 and 2011, Al-Attiyah drove in the Super 2000 World Rally Championship for the Barwa Rally Team, classifying seventh overall in both years. For the 2012 season, Al-Attiyah moved to compete in the top division for the Qatar World Rally Team. He secured a career-best fourth place at the Rally de Portugal.[6] In 2013 he switched to a Ford Fiesta WRC. He finished fifth overall at three races, and ranked 11th in the final standings.[citation needed]

Al-Attiyah stepped back to the WRC-2 in 2014. Driving a Ford Fiesta RRC, he scored four wins and won the championship. In 2015 he defended the championship with three wins.[citation needed]

In 2023, Al-Attyah claimed his 19th championship in the MERC. In an unprecedented case, he shared the title with Abdullah Al-Rawahi, as the pair had scored the same results across five events.[7]

Cross-country rally edit

Al-Attiyah debuted at the Dakar Rally in 2004 with Mitsubishi, finishing 10th overall. He entered the next three editions with an X-Raid BMW, finishing sixth in 2007.[citation needed]

After winning the 2008 FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup in a BMW, he took part alongside Swedish female co-driver Tina Thörner in the 2009 Dakar Rally in Argentina.[8] He was among the frontrunners until he got disqualified on 8 January 2009 after he had missed 9 checkpoints, the rules stating that 4 missed checkpoints are the maximum.[9] He finished second in the Rally dos Sertões from Goiânia to Natal in Brazil (24 June-3 July 2009) behind Carlos Sainz of Spain.[10]

In the 2010 Dakar Rally, Al-Attiyah finished second, 2'12" behind Carlos Sainz, the smallest gap in the history of the race.[11] On 15 January 2011, Al-Attiyah won the legendary Dakar race ahead of fellow Volkswagen drivers Sainz and Giniel de Villiers,[12] making him the only Arab to ever win the difficult race.[13]

The driver claimed the 2015 FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup with five wins and the 2015 Dakar Rally, driving a Mini All4 Racing X-Raid, and the 2016 FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup for Toyota with six wins.[citation needed]

In 2019 Al-Attiyah won the Silk Way Rally driving Toyota Hilux for the Toyota Gazoo Racing team. He finished second place in the 2019 Baja 1000.[14] He also won the 2019 Dakar Rally.[citation needed]

In 2022 he won the 2022 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia,[15] making him the only Arab to win the Dakar rally on Arab soil, ahead of 9 time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb (co-driver Fabian Lurquin). He would also win the inaugural FIA World Rally-Raid Championship title.[citation needed]

In 2023, Al-Attiyah won 2023 Dakar Rally, winning the rally for the fifth time in his career, again finishing ahead of Sébastien Loeb.[16] With two further victories, the Qatari would defend his W2RC title.[17] During the same season, he and co-driver Mathieu Baumel would also clinch the World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas.[18]

Ahead of the 2024 campaign, Al-Attiyah would leave Toyota to partner Sébastien Loeb at Prodrive.[19]

Extreme E edit

Al-Attiyah signed with Abt Cupra XE to race in the 2022 Extreme E Championship, first alongside 2001 Dakar Rally winner Jutta Kleinschmidt[20] and later with Klara Andersson. The team scored a win in Chile and a third place in Chile, ranking 6th in points. Al-Attiyah and Andersson continued together at Abt Cupra for the 2023 season. Al-Attiyah raced the first four rounds of the season and was replaced by Sébastien Loeb and Adrien Tambay in Rounds 5–8 and 9–10 respectively as he focuses on the Baja World Cup.[21][22]

Shooting edit

Nasser Al-Attiyah (left) posing for a picture with Mutaz Essa Barshim after winning bronze at the 2012 Summer Olympics

In shooting, Al-Attiyah came in fourth place in the 2004 Olympic Games in clay pigeon shooting[23] and 15th overall in the 2008 Olympic Games, missing out on qualification for the final round by 2 points.[24] In the 2012 Olympic Games he won the bronze medal after a shoot-off against Valeriy Shomin.[25][26]

Olympic results
Event199620002004200820122016
Skeet15th
120
6th
122+23
4th
122+25
15th
117
3rd
121+23+6
31st
111
World records held in Skeet from 2005 to 2012
MenQualification125  Vincent Hancock (USA)
 Tore Brovold (NOR)
 Mykola Milchev (UKR)
 Jan Sychra (CZE)
 Tore Brovold (NOR)
 Jan Sychra (CZE)
 Antonakis Andreou (CYP)
 Juan José Aramburu (ESP)
 Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT)
 Anthony Terras (FRA)
 Efthimios Mitas (GRE)
14 June 2007
13 July 2008
9 May 2009
20 May 2009
25 July 2009
7 March 2011
22 April 2011
13 September 2011
17 January 2012
26 March 2012
26 March 2012
Lonato (ITA)
Nicosia (CYP)
Cairo (EGY)
Munich (GER)
Osijek (CRO)
Concepción (CHI)
Beijing (CHN)
Belgrade (SER)
Doha (QAT)
Tucson (USA)
Tucson (USA)
edit
Final150  Vincent Hancock (USA) (125+25)
 Tore Brovold (NOR) (125+25)
 Tore Brovold (NOR) (125+25)
 Jan Sychra (CZE) (125+25)
 Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT) (125+25)
 Efthimios Mitas (GRE) (125+25)
14 June 2007
13 July 2008
25 July 2009
7 March 2011
17 January 2012
26 March 2012
Lonato (ITA)
Nicosia (CYP)
Osijek (CRO)
Concepción (CHI)
Doha (QAT)
Tucson (USA)
edit

Career results edit

Circuit racing career summary edit

SeasonSeriesTeamRacesWinsPolesF/LapsPodiumsPointsPosition
2008-09Speedcar SeriesTeam Barwa20000017th
2009Qatar National Road Racing Championship200011212th
201024 Hours of Nürburgring - ATVolkswagen Motorsport11??1N/A1st
201124 Hours of Nürburgring - ATVolkswagen Motorsport11001N/A1st
2013-14Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East600007015th
2015World Touring Car ChampionshipCampos Racing200000NC

WRC results edit

YearEntrantCar12345678910111213141516WDCPts
2004Nasser Al-AttiyahSubaru Impreza WRX STiMONSWE
32
MEX
Ret
NZL
20
CYPGRETURARG
14
FINGERJPNGBRITAFRA
22
ESPAUS
13
NC0
2005Nasser Al-AttiyahSubaru Impreza WRX STiMONSWEMEXNZL
16
ITACYP
18
TUR
16
GREARG
17
FINGERGBR
21
JPNFRAESPAUS
13
NC0
2006QMMFSubaru Impreza WRX Spec CMON
30
SWEMEX
10
ESPFRAARG
15
ITAGRE
17
GERFINJPNCYP
19
TURAUSNZL
26
GBRNC0
2007QMMFSubaru Impreza WRX Spec CMONSWE
27
NORMEX
Ret
PORARG
Ret
ITAGRE
19
FINGERNZLESPFRAJPNIRE
17
GBRNC0
2008QMMFSubaru Impreza WRX STiMONSWE
40
MEXARG
Ret
JORITAGRE
Ret
NC0
Subaru Impreza STi N14TUR
23
FINGERNZLESPFRAJPNGBR
Ret
2009AutotekSubaru Impreza STi N14IRENORCYP
11
18th1
Barwa Rally TeamPOR
16
ARG
8
ITA
9
GRE
DSQ
POLFINAUSESPGBR
Ret
2010Barwa Rally TeamŠkoda Fabia S2000SWEMEX
Ret
JOR
18
TURNZL
13
NC0
Ford Fiesta S2000POR
25
BULFIN
29
GERJPNFRAESPGBR
2011Barwa Rally TeamFord Fiesta S2000SWEMEX
EX
PORJOR
Ret
ITA
11
ARGGRE
16
FINGER
16
AUSFRA
Ret
ESP
11
GBRNC0
2012Qatar World Rally TeamCitroën DS3 WRCMONSWE
21
MEX
6
POR
4
ARG
9
GRE
Ret
NZLFINGER
8
GBR
10
FRA
Ret
ITAESP12th28
2013Qatar World Rally TeamFord Fiesta RS WRCMONSWEMEX
5
POR
5
ARGGRE
5
ITAFINGER
13
AUSFRAESP
Ret
GBR
WD
11th30
2014Nasser Al-AttiyahFord Fiesta RRCMONSWEMEXPOR
9
ITA
Ret
POLFINGER
17
AUS
11
FRAESP
10
GBR
17
22nd4
Drive DMACKARG
10
2015Nasser Al-AttiyahFord Fiesta RRCMONSWEMEX
7
ARGPOR
11
ITA
12
POL
Ret
FINAUS
10
FRA16th7
Škoda Fabia R5GER
17
ESP
12
GBR

PWRC results edit

Al-Attiyah drives a Subaru Impreza WRX STI at the 2006 Acropolis Rally
YearEntrantCar12345678PWRCPoints
2004Nasser Al-AttiyahSubaru Impreza WRX STiSWE
7
MEX
Ret
NZL
7
ARG
3
GERFRA
7
AUS
5
7th17
2005Nasser Al-AttiyahSubaru Impreza WRX STiSWENZL
4
CYP
5
TUR
3
ARG
1
GBR
3
JPNAUS
5
2nd35
2006QMMFSubaru Impreza WRX Spec CMON
3
MEX
2
ARG
1
GRE
1
JPNCYP
5
AUSNZL
7
1st40
2007QMMFSubaru Impreza WRX Spec CSWE
7
MEX
Ret
ARG
Ret
GRE
5
NZLJPNIRE
3
GBR9th12
2008QMMFSubaru Impreza WRX STiSWE
17
ARG
Ret
GRE
Ret
NC0
Subaru Impreza STi N14TUR
10
FINNZLJPNGBR
Ret
2009AutotekSubaru Impreza STi N14NORCYP
3
3rd31
Barwa Rally TeamPOR
4
ARG
1
ITA
1
GRE
DSQ
AUSGBR
Ret

SWRC results edit

Al-Attiyah drives a Ford Fiesta S2000 at the 2010 Rally Finland
YearEntrantCar12345678910SWRCPoints
2010Barwa Rally TeamŠkoda Fabia S2000SWEMEX
Ret
JOR
4
NZL
5
7th34
Ford Fiesta S2000POR
7
FIN
7
GERJPNFRAGBR
2011Barwa Rally TeamFord Fiesta S2000MEX
EX
JOR
Ret
ITA
4
GRE
6
FINGER
2
FRA
Ret
ESP
2
7th56

WRC-2 Results edit

YearEntrantCar12345678910111213WRC-2Points
2014Nasser Al-AttiyahFord Fiesta RRCMONSWEMEXPOR
1
ITA
Ret
POLFINGER
5
AUS
1
FRAESP
1
GBR
6
1st118
Drive DMACKARG
1
2015Nasser Al-AttiyahFord Fiesta RRCMONSWEMEX
1
ARG
POR
1
ITA
5
POL
Ret
FINAUS
1
FRA1st112
Škoda Fabia R5GER
4
ESP
3
GBR

ERC results edit

YearEntrantCar1234567891011Pos.Points
2014Qatar World Rally TeamFord Fiesta RRCJÄNLIEGREIREAZOYPRESTCZECYP
Ret
VALCORNC0
2017Autotek MotorsportFord Fiesta R5AZOCANGRE
Ret
CYP
1
POLZLIRMCLIE8th45
2018Autotek MotorsportFord Fiesta R5AZOCANGRECYP
4
RMCZLIPOLLIE23rd16
2019Autotek MotorsportVolkswagen Polo GTI R5AZOCANLIEPOLRMCCZECYP
1
HUN8th39

Dakar Rally results edit

Al-Attiyah's Hilux from 2017
YearClassVehiclePositionStages won
2004Car Mitsubishi10th0
2005 BMWDNF0
2006DNF0
20076th1
2008Event cancelled – replaced by the 2008 Central Europe Rally
2009Car BMW DSQ 3
2010 Volkswagen2nd4
20111st4
2012 HummerDNF2
2013 Demon JefferiesDNF3
2014 Mini3rd2
20151st5
20162nd2
2017 ToyotaDNF1
20182nd4
20191st3
20202nd1
20212nd6
20221st2
20231st3
2024 BRXDNF1

Complete World Touring Car Championship results edit

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeamCar123456789101112131415161718192021222324DCPoints
2015Campos RacingChevrolet RML Cruze TC1ARG
1
ARG
2
MAR
1
MAR
2
HUN
1
HUN
2
GER
1
GER
2
RUS
1
RUS
2
SVK
1
SVK
2
FRA
1
FRA
2
POR
1
POR
2
JPN
1
JPN
2
CHN
1
CHN
2
THA
1
THA
2
QAT
1

16
QAT
2

14
NC0

Complete World Rally-Raid Championship results edit

(key)

YearTeamCarClass12345Pos.Points
2022Toyota Gazoo RacingToyota GR DKR HiluxT1DAK
1
ABU
11
MOR
3
AND
2
1st169
2023Toyota Gazoo RacingToyota GR DKR HiluxT1+DAK
1
ABU
Ret
SON
1
DES
1
MOR
15
1st205
2024Nasser RacingProdrive Hunter T1+T1+DAK
Ret
ABUPRTDESMOR

Complete Extreme E results edit

(key)

YearTeamCar12345Pos.Points
2022Abt Cupra XESpark ODYSSEY 21DES
8
ISL1
9
ISL2
DSQ
COP
3
ENE
1
6th46

References edit

  1. ^ Al-Attiyah clinches first Dakar Rally title
  2. ^ Evans, David (2 January 2024). "How Sir Jackie Stewart helped shape a five-time Dakar winner". DirtFish. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Competitors – Nasser Saleh Al Attiya". Merc-fia.com. 20 December 1970. Archived from the original on 16 January 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  4. ^ "The Peninsula Newspaper".
  5. ^ "World Rally Championship – Statistics". Archived from the original on 1 December 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  6. ^ "World Rally Championship – Drivers & Teams – Nasser Al-Attiyah". Wrc.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  7. ^ Barry, Luke (22 November 2023). "The rally title decided by a committee meeting". DirtFish. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  8. ^ Archived copy Archived 3 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "Dakar Rally 2009 – Naser Al-Attiyah Disqualified". Motorward. 9 January 2009. Archived from the original on 9 February 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  10. ^ "Rally dos Sertões 2009". Webventure.com.br. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  11. ^ "Breaking news". Dakar. 16 January 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  12. ^ Al-Attiyah claims first Dakar win
  13. ^ "Al-Attiyah wins Dakar Rally". Al Jazeera. 15 January 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  14. ^ "Red Bull Content Pool".
  15. ^ "Qatari driver Nasser al-Attiyah wins fourth Dakar Rally title". Al Jazeera. 14 January 2022.
  16. ^ Brunsdon, Stephen (15 January 2023). "Al-Attiyah wins Dakar Rally for the fifth time". DirtFish. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  17. ^ "Nasser Al-Attiyah Rally Raid Champion again". www.speedweek.com. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Cross-Country - João Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro earn hard-fought victory in mini JCW Rally Plus at Portugal's 37th Baja Portalegre 500". Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. 29 October 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  19. ^ Barry, Luke (26 October 2023). "Al-Attiyah joins Prodrive as team-mate to Loeb". DirtFish. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  20. ^ "Dakar legends team up for ABT CUPRA XE's Season 2 title challenge". Extreme E. 3 February 2022.
  21. ^ Wilde, Dominik (29 June 2023). "Loeb to make Extreme E return at Island X Prix". RACER. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  22. ^ Wilde, Dominik (28 November 2023). "Tambay joins Abt Cupra for Extreme E finale". RACER. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  23. ^ Dakar 2010
  24. ^ "08.30.04". CNN.
  25. ^ "Vincent Hancock wins gold in skeet". ESPN. 31 July 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  26. ^ "Olympic medal for WRC star Al-Attiyah". Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2012.

External links edit

Sporting positions
Preceded by Middle East Rally Championship
Champion

2003
Succeeded by
Preceded by Middle East Rally Championship
Champion

2005–2009
Succeeded by
Preceded by Production World Rally Championship
Champion

2006
Succeeded by
Preceded by Dakar Rally
Cars Winner

2011
Succeeded by
Preceded by Middle East Rally Championship
Champion

2011–2022
Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by World Rally Championship-2
Champion

20142015
Succeeded by
Preceded by Dakar Rally
Cars Winner

2015
Succeeded by
Preceded by Dakar Rally
Cars Winner

2019
Succeeded by
Preceded by Dakar Rally
Cars Winner

2022
Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Inaugural
World Rally-Raid Championship
World Champion

2022
Succeeded by
Incumbent
Olympic Games
Preceded by Flagbearer for  Qatar
Beijing 2008
Succeeded by