A well-used World Rally Championship phrase points out that while a driver cannot win a rally on its opening day, he can certainly lose it.
With the drivers' and manufacturers' title battles finely balanced, however, the experienced hands ensured there were no early big name casualties as Rally Australia got underway yesterday.
The pre-rally talk consensus was that BP Ford Abu Dhabi drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala would prefer the slippery gravel tracks found in the Tweed and Kyogle Shires stages.
But a spectator-friendly, tarmac-based super special stage - four runs of which have been run already - has allowed their Citroen rivals, artisans of the sealed surface variety, to remain in sight.
Latvala, winner of six of yesterday's nine off-road runs, produced a masterful day-long display to open up a 2.2secs overnight lead.
However, it was the Citroen Junior Team driver, Sebastien Ogier, came into his own in the 10th of the 12-round series.
Four straight stage wins have ensured the young Frenchman is Australia's surprise package thus far. Both drivers' display bordered on perfection.
"I had the flow - it was almost a perfect day," said Latvala.
"I was a little disappointed with the super special, I lost too much time, but it was OK."
Ogier was equally content after some clever tactics of keeping a worn morning tyre as a spare to use it on the day-ending tarmac double run paid off.
"We had a good position on the road and started quite cautiously - without taking too much risk," he said.
"Our strategy was key; we got a good time using the old tyre on the tarmac - it's been a perfect day for us."
Tougher challenges await them in today's second leg. Latvala will act as sweeper for the cars behind, a time-costing punishment for being first on the road, while Ogier - running second - will also be burdened by relatively raw road markings. Neither seemed particularly worried.
"I'm not too concerned, if it rains it'll be even better being first on the road," Latvala said.
Ogier was also unworried.
"I just have to keep concentrating and continue. I'm looking in front - when you do a rally, you always look for first place," he said.
The pair will continue their tussle with three big names in an ominous chasing-pack.
Separated by a mere 0.9secs, Citroen's Sebastien Loeb and Dani Sordo and Hirvonen complete the top five as all will try to capitalise on superior road conditions today.
Hirvonen, the championship leader who performed his opening leg sweeper role with bravery and speed, starts third.
Despite dropping two places in the evening super specials, which do not influence today's road positions, he is relishing resuming his title battle with the five-time world champion Loeb.
"It's been OK, not the perfect finish for the day, but I think I survived even better than I thought from cleaning the road. Everything is possible - it's all open now," Hirvonen said.
"It's going to be easier for me, that's for sure. Sebastien has a better starting position, he is behind and can have a look at what I am doing. It's going to be tricky but I'll go flat out and try to keep him behind."
It was a disappointing day for the other Ford driver, Sheikh Khalid al Qassimi. Al Qassimi, who collided with a tree stump on stage seven and subsequently retired, must shoulder a 35-minute penalty.
"Competitively it's over, I was up to eighth but the most important thing now is getting the feeling and maybe jumping a couple of positions," he said.
The team director, Malcolm Wilson, said the cars could have been quicker on the tarmac stages.
"But they've performed really well throughout the day," he said.
"For Mikko to be within a second of Loeb after running first on the road is a good day's effort. There's no question we'd have taken that at the start of the day.
"Jari's drive was very mature, he had fantastic pace."
emegson@thenational.ae
Honeymoonish
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THE%20STRANGERS'%20CASE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Predictions
Predicted winners for final round of games before play-offs:
- Friday: Delhi v Chennai - Chennai
- Saturday: Rajasthan v Bangalore - Bangalore
- Saturday: Hyderabad v Kolkata - Hyderabad
- Sunday: Delhi v Mumbai - Mumbai
- Sunday - Chennai v Punjab - Chennai
Final top-four (who will make play-offs): Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bangalore
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
