KNEISSER AND PATROL SHINE IN EUROPE BAJA DEBUT

Nissan rallying ace Emil Kneisser has started his first European campaign in fine style with a podium finish in the grueling Italian Baja Rally.

The Italian Baja is the fifth round of the Cross Country FIA World Cup and the event saw superb performances from Nissan drivers in the T2 category with Lebanese custodian Kneisser storming home third and fellow Patrol driver Denis Berekovsky taking out second spot.

Kneisser might have even finished first had it not been for a puncture and a minor accident when he was lying second and challenging for the lead.

Fifty vehicles were flagged off in the Italian rally with 12 in the T2 category. T2 comprises cross-country series production vehicles.

The rally was contested over 1,000km of tough conditions but Kneisser and his Russian co-pilot Alex Komzic were up to the challenge and they said the Nissan Patrol again lived up to its name “Hero of all Terrains in Life”.

“The Nissan Patrol, as expected, took everything in its stride. The best drivers in the world are here in Europe but when you’re behind the wheel of a Nissan Patrol, whether it’s tarmac, desert or whatever, you know you can compete at the highest level,” says Kneissner.“This is my first taste of rallying in Europe so I would expect to improve even more. I have the best support from my team, the Nissan Patrol and NissanMiddle East. We’re delighted with our first outing but I think the best is yet to come.”

Nissan Middle East managing director Samir Cherfan has heaped praise on Kneisser and the Nissan Patrol after their latest outstanding Baja efforts.

“This is a great start for Emil in his European debut. He has triumphed in the Middle East and the indications are he will meet with similar success in Europe. The Italian event will be just the start as his career continues to blossom. Nissan will keep supporting him every step of the way.”

The Cross Country FIA World Cup is a global competition with a number of events around the world, such as the Italian Baja and Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Powered by Nissan, selected for the Cup and it culminates in a driver being crowned world champion.

There are five more rounds of the European Bajas and the next challenge for Kneisser will be the Baja Aragón July 24-26. Kneisser already sits in second position in the T2 category, 16 points behind the leader Denis Berekovsky.

Kneisser recently won the T2 in the Rally of the Pharaons in Egypt, one of the sport’s showpiece events and also part of the Cross Country FIA World Cup. He also has winner’s trophies from the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Powered by Nissan and the Sealine Cross-Country Rally of Qatar, both also part of the World Cup competition.

Nissan is a major supporter of rallies and motor sport in general in the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia’s Hai’l International Rally and the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.

Nissan will also support other Arab drivers as it assists Kneisser to further develop motor sport in the Middle East, according to the company.