Team switch a relief for Al-Attiyah

The Qatar driver walked out of the Rene Georges Team after Rally New Zealand earlier this month and swapped his Skoda Fabia for a Ford Fiesta S2000 - the same kind of car he used to start the season with Qatar Rally victory.

Given Al-Attiyah's status as one of Volkswagen's works Dakar drivers, the VW Group was keen to see him in a Fabia for his WRC and Intercontinentaly Rally Challenge progrmame. But after an acrimonious split with the Rene Georges Team, which ran his Skoda, Al-Attiyah returned to the British outfit and a Fiesta in time for Portugal.

"It's very good to be back," he said. "There's a good feeling with the team and I feel happy again. I have a good feeling in my head when I come into service, which is what I need."

Al-Attiyah took the lead of the S-WRC on SS3 in Portugal and was still ahead as the cars moved into the final stage of the day.

"The Fiesta is a good car," he continued. "This is a brand new car for me. There's still some work to do and some more speed to come, but we're building step by step all of the time."