FORMER CHAMPION AL MARRI STEPS IN TO REPLACE INJURED WORLD CHAMPION AL ZAFEEN

Wednesday, 21 May, BUDVA (Montenegro): After stepping back from racing at the end of 2006, former Class 1 World and Middle East Champion, Mohammed Al Marri is back in the driver’s seat to resume competitive duties in Victory 1 alongside Nadir Bin Hendi, replacing the injured defending World and European Champion, Arif Saif Al Zafeen, in this weekend’s Hypo Group Montenegrin Grand Prix in Budva.

Al Marri, a veteran of 55 Grands Prix, with nine race wins and 26 podiums under his belt, made his Class 1 debut in 2000 alongside the 1995 and 1996 World Champion, Saeed Al Tayer, winning his first Grand Prix in Marmaris, Turkey. In 2001 Al Marri and Al Tayer took wins in Trieste, Arendal, Plymouth and Dubai to clinch the World title.

In 2004 Al Marri was partnered by Jean-Marc Sanchez, finishing third overall in the title race, going on to win the Middle East Championship the following year after wins in Doha and Dubai and finish second in the title race. In his last full season of racing in 2006, Al Marri (and Sanchez) once again had to settle for the runners-up slot.