Special Motorsports Event - Nasser Al-Attiyah Will Defend Title In Robby Gordon Hummer

Charlotte, December 7, 2011: Winner of the 2011 Dakar Rally, Nasser Al-Attiyah confirmed that he will join Robby Gordon and his off-road team in the 2012 edition of the Dakar Rally. Driving one of the highly-modified HUMMERs sponsored by his native country of Qatar, Al-Attiyah will compete for his second consecutive overall Dakar Rally victory. Should he conquer the South American desert once again, he will be only the second driver to triumph in two different manufactures; Ari Vatanen did so in 1990-1991.

Al-Attiyah has an impressive racing resume and is an accomplished cross-country and classic rally racer. He has won seven FIA Middle East Rally Championships titles since 2003 and collected 13 stage wins in the infamous Dakar Rally from 2009 to 2011.

"Teaming with Robby Gordon and driving a HUMMER is fantastic because it's a new challenge for me. I'm proud of being able to represent Qatar in this year’s Dakar Rally," Al-Attiyah said.

Lucas Cruz, who sat alongside Al-Attiyah for the 2011 Dakar win, will once again be his co-driver.

“To have Nasser as a teammate in this year’s Dakar Rally is a huge boost for our team. He brings the excitement and experience of a champion to our team. I personally take it as an honor that he chose our team to defend his 2011 overall win. Between my SPEED Energy HUMMER and his Qatar HUMMER, we have a strong team, cars, and drivers capable of winning the Rally,” commented Robby Gordon.

Nasser Al-Attiyah Career Highlights:

1990 1st place Qatar National Rally Championship

1991 1st place Desert Fox by Marlboro

1992 1st place Qatar National Rally Championship

2003 1st place FIA Middle East Rally Championship

2006 1st place FIA Production Car World Rally Championship

2007 1st place FIA Middle East Rally Championship

2008 1st place FIA Cross Country Rally Worldcup

1st place FIA Cross Country Rally Worldcup for Bajas

2009 2nd place Rally dos Sertões, Silk Way Rally

1st place FIA Middle East Rally Championship

2010 2nd place Dakar Rally

2nd place Silk Way Rally

2011 1st Place Dakar Rally