Nasser Al-Attiyah Qatari racing driver Date of Birth: 21.12.1970 Country: Qatar

1. Nasser Al-Attiyah: A Legend on Four and Two Wheels
2. Early Career in Rallying
3. Dominance in the Middle East
4. Triumph at the Dakar Rally
5. UN Sporting Ambassador
6. Olympic Dreams in Shooting
7. SpeedCar Adventure
8. Partnership with Volkswagen
9. Unfulfilled Ambition with Volkswagen Motorsport
10. Return to Dakar
11. Legacy of Success

Nasser Al-Attiyah: A Legend on Four and Two Wheels

Nasser Al-Attiyah, a Qatari athlete, has made a name for himself as a master of both motorsport and marksmanship.

Early Career in Rallying

Al-Attiyah entered the international rally scene in 2004 and went on to claim the World Rally Championship Production Car title two years later alongside his British co-driver Chris Patterson.

Dominance in the Middle East

Apart from WRC, Al-Attiyah has been a regular competitor in the Middle East Rally Championship. He has won the regional title an impressive seven times: 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2011.

Triumph at the Dakar Rally

Al-Attiyah gained global recognition at the 2011 Dakar Rally, where he led the car category after the sixth stage. However, he was controversially disqualified for missing nine checkpoints. He returned in 2015 and claimed a second Dakar victory behind the wheel of a Mini.

UN Sporting Ambassador

Al-Attiyah's contributions to sports were acknowledged in 2006 when he was appointed as the first UN Sports Ambassador.

Olympic Dreams in Shooting

Beyond rallying, Al-Attiyah is an accomplished marksman. He has competed in four consecutive Summer Olympics (1996, 2000, 2004, and 2016) in skeet shooting. His best performance was a fourth-place finish in Athens 2004.

SpeedCar Adventure

In 2009, Al-Attiyah made his debut in the Asian motorsport series SpeedCar, driving for the home team at the Losail Circuit.

Partnership with Volkswagen

Al-Attiyah signed with Volkswagen's factory team in 2009. With German co-driver Timo Gottschalk, he led the duo to victory at the 2011 Dakar Rally.

Unfulfilled Ambition with Volkswagen Motorsport

Negotiations to extend his contract with Volkswagen Motorsport for the 2013 World Rally Championship fell through. Al-Attiyah's desire to participate in the 2012 Dakar Rally clashed with the team's decision not to provide him with a vehicle.

Return to Dakar

Despite setbacks, Al-Attiyah competed in the 2012 Dakar Rally with the American team led by Robby Gordon. However, his bid to defend his title ended prematurely due to mechanical issues.

Legacy of Success

Nasser Al-Attiyah's unparalleled achievements on both the racing circuit and the Olympic range have cemented his status as one of the greatest motorsport and marksmanship athletes of his generation.