Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi knows he faces another stern tarmac test on his least favourite surface at the latest round of the World Rally Championship in Spain this weekend.
With BP-Ford Abu Dhabi and Citroen embroiled in season-long championship battles, Rally de Espana will see lead driver, Mikko Hirvonen and four-time world champion Sebastien Loeb, resume their title duel.
Hirvonen, who will be joined by new teammate Francois Duval, currently trails his German rival by eight points in the standings with four rallies still to be held this year.
But the third BP-Ford Abu Dhabi driver knows he will be up against it in Cataluyna.
"I was 14th in my Spain debut last year, but this time around there will be more entries and more quality drivers. I'm intending to lift my pace, but with a better field that may not show in the results," Qassimi said.
"This will be my sixth tarmac event in just over a year and I'm still learning. However, before I was just happy to be driving and competing, now I'm trying to get more pace out the car.
"In Catalunya, I'll focus on setting-up the car and then review my first day performance. If I feel I'm heading in the right direction, then I'll lift my pace.
"I'd like to finish Spain with no problems and go to Corsica with another asphalt event under my belt, more confidence and ready to really give it my all.
"These are the last two tarmac events of the season so it's important that I continue to make progress."
sports@thenational.ae
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
HAJJAN
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners