One often marvels at the brilliance of the individuals who take part in the top echelons of each motorsport category. Be it MotoGP, MXGP or Formula 1, WTCC – the riders and drivers can effortlessly be tagged as superhumans. But being a superhuman is not enough for the Dakar Rally. It might be considered the starting point but this is one of those races where insanity is probably a bigger requirement. No sane individual would put themselves though the punishment that is the Dakar.
Qatar’s Mohamed Abu Issa can easily lay claim to be in that adulated category. In 2014, he made his Dakar debut, in the quads category, and went on to finish an impressive first place in the junior category and fourth overall. The next two seasons he was in great positions during the initial stages of the race but had to withdraw due to technical reasons.
And now, with all that Dakar experience under his belt, Mohamed has bagged a coveted X-Raid Mini seat for the 2017 Dakar Rally. This is the same team that won the Dakar title for four consecutive years – 2012 to 2015 – the last of which was won by Qatar’s own Nasser al-Attiyah. In 2016, they were trumped by Stephane Peterhansel’s Peugot, with al-Attiyah claiming a great second place.     
With such exceptional team pedigree, Mohamed is elated to have bagged a seat for the 2017 Dakar edition. “I am really excited about this opportunity. This was a dream from me since I turned professional in the quad category. I spent years gaining the necessary experience needed to join such a prestigious team. The opportunity came about after a lot of negotiation and testing. I had the chance to drive the car and had the skills the X-Raid Mini were looking for to develop the buggy,” said Mohamed while speaking to Gulf Times.  
One of the biggest challenges for Mohamed will be the switch from quads to the X-Raid buggy. But he feels up to the challenge. “It will take time to get used to driving the two-wheel drive buggy as opposed to a four-wheel drive. Luckily lots of the driving sensations are similar to that of a quad, this will be a great help,” he said.
“Despite that it does not deter from the fact that this is a big challenge and will be very tough. Dakar, even with years of experience is a challenge let alone in a new category. Learning is the most important for the imminent challenges however I am still looking to compete with the best,” he added.
Having the backing of a team like X-Raid Mini will also help the transition from quads to the buggy. “X-Raid is at a different level. The team has had years of experience and expert knowledge in all areas from mechanics, technical teams, physios and doctors as well as management. This bank of knowledge and experience is priceless when competing in Dakar and I feel so happy to have the support of such an advanced and well established team,” he said.
The 26-year-old is also hoping that the three years of quad experience at the Dakar will work to his advantage. “Navigation on the quads is crucial, I spent hours and hours planning and preparing my road books. This has given me the in-depth skill and understanding of navigation and reading the tracks. Although I will have a co-driver the intrinsic understanding of navigation and rally experience will hopefully work well in my favour.”
With many big names pushing for the win at the Dakar, Mohamed is looking at his first edition in the cars category to be more of a learning experience.  “I understand what it takes to finish and the scale of the challenge. I am going to use this experience to guide me through the rally and make the most from this learning curve. There are some of the best drivers in the world and some great teams competing. I am hoping to keep to a reasonable pace and finish in a good position, especially in the rookie car category,” he said.
Mohamed is currently competing in the Morocco Rally with the X-Raid Mini team to get a hang of the buggy. This will be his first official outing with the team. The young Qatari hasn’t had a lot of time to prepare this year and is looking to gain as much experience as he can during this rally before heading to the Dakar. “I have missed out on competing in the World Cup this year due to the attendance of my National Service in Qatar and the launch of my fitness venture (OxFitness Lab at The Gate Mall). Morocco will be mainly used for testing, set up and Dakar preparation.”
The Dakar Rally begins on January 2nd, 2017. And Mohamed is excited to get this opportunity to represent Qatar again. “I can’t explain the excitement. It’s always amazing to be part of the largest rally in the world and one of the most watched sporting events worldwide. It’s a privilege to represent Qatar on an international level. I am trying to channel my excitement into focus during my preparation period,” he said.
All of the motorsport fans will be cheering for Mohamed as he begins his new Dakar endeavour. He definitely has the skills. May he be blessed with all the madness that this event demands…