WRC 2 championship leader Al-Kuwari steps up to WRC Ford
Robert Kubica's WRC 2 championship rival Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari will step up to the World Rally Championship's top class in an M-Sport Ford for the Rally of Spain
The Qatari driver's backers promised him a World Rally Car drive at some point this year as a reward for his impressive start to the feeder series season.
The Fiesta WRC will run under Al-Kuwari's usual Seashore Qatar team banner.
"This car is much faster than the Fiesta RRC I am used to so we will need some time to get used to it," he said.
"Our first goal is always to finish all the stages and make it to the finish ramp.
"Of course a top-10 finish would be fantastic, and if I'm honest, I really want to beat my best result of 10th place overall."
Al-Kuwari reclaimed the WRC 2 lead from Kubica by winning the class on Rally Australia while the Pole was competing on his home round of the European Rally Championship.
WRC 2 competitors must each start seven rounds of the series.
Al-Kuwari leads Kubica by 17 points, but has done six of his seven rallies whereas the Pole has only done five.
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