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Dead Sea, Jordan: Shaikh Khalid Al Qasimi threw his gloves on to the driver's seat in disgust after two punctures on the final stage robbed the BP-Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team driver of his first set of WRC points.
Though he finished ninth, his first top-10 finish in the WRC since making his debut in Finland last year, Shaikh Khalid knew how close he was to grabbing championship points.
A winner here last year when it was not a WRC event, Shaikh Khalid was in superb form and came through some testing moments which also included his car catching fire twice on the opening day.
Disappointed
Yesterday he was all set to finish at least eighth and was pushing forward cautiously when the two punctures cost him six minutes.
"Of course I'm very happy but also a little disappointed because I suffered two flat tyres on the last stage when I was fighting for seconds and a drivers' point," he said.
"It was crazy, I drove with one flat and then another went and I had to stop and fix both tyres, which cost me lots of time. I've never been in a points-scoring position in the WRC before and unfortunately luck wasn't on my side," said Shaikh Khalid.
"A top-10 finish is a great conclusion to what has been a very technical, difficult rally here in Jordan."
Ahmad Hussain, deputy director general, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, was full of praise for the UAE driver. He said: "Shaikh Khalid is improving with every rally and finishing in the top 10 for the first time is a great personal reward for his hard work and commitment to the Abu Dhabi cause.
"He is learning new surfaces, techniques and driving styles in all the WRC events he takes part in and has now finished every rally he's started - a commendable record and one he should be congratulated for."
It was crazy, I drove with one flat and then another went and I had to stop and fix both tyres, which cost me lots of time."
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