Nasser Al-Attiyah

Nasser Al-Attiyah, born in Doha in 1970, maintains a dual career as a professional sport shooter and a high-performance rally driver. His athletic portfolio spans decades, marked by a bronze medal in the men's skeet event at the 2012 Summer Olympics and six overall victories in the Dakar Rally, representing his home nation of Qatar on the global stage.

Rallying and WRC Success

Al-Attiyah began his rally career in 2003, inspired by Jackie Stewart’s book, Winning Is Not Enough. He competed extensively in the Middle East Rally Championship, securing 65 race wins and 13 titles. His transition to the Production World Rally Championship yielded a title in 2006 driving a Subaru Impreza. Later, he competed in the WRC-2 category, securing championships in 2014 and 2015 behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta RRC.

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Cross-Country Rally Dominance

The Dakar Rally remains the centerpiece of his racing career. He debuted in 2004, eventually securing overall wins in 2011, 2015, 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2026. These achievements established him as the only West Asian competitor to win the event multiple times. His career has involved teams including Mitsubishi, X-Raid BMW, Volkswagen, Toyota Gazoo Racing, and Prodrive, alongside his success in the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship.

Olympic Shooting Performance

Beyond motorsports, Al-Attiyah has remained a consistent competitor in international clay pigeon shooting. He placed 15th at the 2008 Summer Olympics, missing the final by two points, and fourth at the 2004 Olympic Games. In 2012, he achieved his primary goal on the range by winning the bronze medal in the men's skeet event after defeating Valeriy Shomin in a shoot-off.

Extreme E and Recent Seasons

Expanding his repertoire, he joined the Extreme E Championship in 2022 with Abt Cupra XE. Racing alongside partners including Jutta Kleinschmidt and Klara Andersson, the team secured a podium finish in Chile. By 2023, he balanced his rally-raid obligations with his Baja World Cup focus, while continuing to compete at the highest levels of desert and circuit racing.