Khalid Al Qassimi has revealed that he will contest next week’s Rally Deutschland against the advice of his doctors.
The Emirati, who drives for the Abu Dhabi Citroen Total team, required hospital treatment this week after he fell at home and injured his hand.
But despite being advised to rest the hand for three weeks, Al Qassimi remains determined to start the all-asphalt rally as planned on August 23rd.
“It’s going to be a tough event for me,” Al Qasimi told Gulf News. “And the accident hasn’t helped. I was reaching for the light switch at home when I fell on the stairs, and I used my left hand to break my fall. At first I thought I’d broken my fingers because they were very painful and swollen.
“I went to hospital and the good news is that the fingers aren’t broken. The doctor told me not to put any pressure on them and that I really shouldn’t drive for three weeks. But he also said the swelling will reduce before the rally, so I’m taking painkillers and should be ok to start."
Rally Deutschland will be the first time that Al Qassimi has competed on asphalt in the DS3 World Rally Car. His best result in Germany came in 2010 when he was eighth at the wheel of a Ford Focus RS WRC.