Nogier: Olympic success will boost Al-Attiyah

Benoit Nogier believes Nasser Al-Attiyah’s capture of a medal in the London 2012 Olympics can serve as a catalyst for a strong run of form when he returns to the FIA World Rally Championship in Germany later this month.

Al-Attiyah won bronze in the men’s skeet shooting event in the British capital yesterday, which has prevented him from contesting this week’s Neste Oil Rally Finland for the Qatar World Rally Team.

“We are very proud for what he has achieved during the Olympics,” said Nogier, the boss of Citroen Racing Technologies, which runs Al-Attiyah’s DS3 WRC. “It was a big, big goal for him this year and he’s got his medal. Now we hope he can get his first podium in the world championship with our team.”

Nogier confirmed Al-Attiyah will complete the balance of the season with Citroen and expects the Qatari to build on his successful start to the year alongside Italian co-driver Giovanni Bernacchini.

“Nasser’s mind will be a bit more free now because the Olympics was his main goal for the season,” said Nogier. “He will be able to focus only on the rally and this will help him for sure.”