Eyeing an encore
The Overdrive Racing Team driver and his French navigator Matthieu Baumel won the first four stages in Qatar until a technical issue cost them a potential victory and the two-time Dakar winner knows the enormity of the task awaiting him if he is to win the FIA World Cup for a fifth time this year. The duo did, however, claim victory in Kazakhstan's inaugural round of the series last year and is eyeing an encore.
"I made a calculated decision not to go to the UAE and I guess success hinged this season on winning in Qatar," said Al Attiyah.
Pushing for the win
"That was not meant to be, that's motor sport, and the non-finish there has made it vital that I win in Kazakhstan. I like the new rally here very much and really enjoyed the stages and the terrain last year.
It's a case of pushing for the win and the 60 points and then seeing how it all pans out and how that affects the championship," he added.
Return to action
Yasir Seaidan returns to action in Central Asia with Russian navigator Alexei Kuzmich after tacking the recent event in Qatar with Frenchman Laurent Lichtleuchter.
The Saudi driver finished on the podium at Losail last month, after overcoming the rigours of the event's complex navigation, and also enjoyed his visit to Kazakhstan last season in a T2 Toyota Land Cruiser to win the category and finish seventh overall.
Third Toyota
The French duo of Ronan Chabot and Gilles Pillot crew the third Overdrive Racing Toyota Hilux.
Chabot retired from 15th position in the Dakar Rally on medical grounds and is due some better luck after retiring from the Italian Baja last year and then being forced to fight back from early problems to finish 30th overall in the Rally of Morocco.