Dacia Sandriders driver Nasser Al-Attiyah has revealed he has despatched a letter to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem over his grievances from this 12 months’s Dakar Rally.
The five-time occasion winner was left aggrieved by a 10-minute penalty when ending quickest on Stage 5, a misplaced spare wheel taking away his 9m59s benefit on the finish of the take a look at to depart him one second adrift of the stage win in second.
Al-Attiyah has additionally been outspoken towards the choice from the FIA to hinder Carlos Sainz and Sebastien Loeb from persevering with the occasion after their rollover crashes within the opening 4 levels – harm to the roll cages of the Ford and Dacia machines leaving them unable to proceed as instructed by the rules.
With frustration constructing, the Qatari driver revealed his intention to jot down a letter to Ben Sulayem and requested by media together with Motorsport.com for an replace on the progress of the be aware, Al-Attiyah defined: “Sure, we despatched the letter, and we have been saying that we needed to defend our place, our ten minutes. This can be a mistake, to obtain ten minutes, however we’re working for this example to vary – to not change, we have to put the fitting individuals [there], I feel.
“I do not get pleasure from it. No, I do not get pleasure from Dakar, I am do day-to-day, however each time one thing unusual [happens], I am not having fun with in any respect”.
On whether or not there was something lacking to assist his enjoyment, Al-Attiyah replied: “No, we do not miss something, however whenever you come to the race, it’s essential get pleasure from. You needn’t have politics within the center or one thing that is not truthful, whenever you put a rule – end. You needn’t change one thing on daily basis. We aren’t at school.”
Al-Attiyah completed just below 12 minutes down on Stage 7 winner Lucas Moraes on a day the place 20km of the route was neutralised to unravel a roadbook error – the occasion director flying out in a helicopter mid-stage to help the rivals.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President, FIA
Photograph by: Crimson Bull Content material Pool
The outcome leaves him 21m57s down on Henk Lategan within the general classification and requested if he can nonetheless add a sixth win to his title, Al-Attiyah conceded: “I have no idea.
“However perhaps, ultimately, I can win. To this point I’ve not gained on a stage, I am going day-to-day, we’ll see.
“Twenty minutes is nothing, we nonetheless have 5 days, we attempt to do our greatest day-to-day, I’ll do my finest to climb to win.”
Images from Dakar Rally Stage 7
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