Al-Ketbi vows to hit back from early Targa Florio woe

Rashid Al-Ketbi has revealed his disappointment after being handed a time penalty following the opening stage of Targa Florio-Rally Internazionale Di Sicilia in Palermo last night.

The Skydive Dubai Rally Team driver, a regular in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge this season, was adjudged to have taken the wrong route in his ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000.

However, he insisted he made a simple mistake and had simply been unable to follow the correct route.

“We came into one corner and we were sliding, sliding through the markings,” said Al-Ketbi, who reckoned he would receive 1m30s in time penalties. “But when we tried to go in the right way we could not because there were more markings in the way. I didn’t cut any corners, I just couldn’t return to the right place. I’m very upset about the penalty but this is rally.”

Al-Ketbi plans to spend Friday’s stages making up the time lost on Thursday night. However, he says he will drive with a degree of caution.

“We have to save the car for the Ypres Rally next week so we will drive with care and just do our best,” he said.