For Rashid Al Ketbi rally "Sliven" is his third rally in Bulgaria in the last two seasons. He finished second at the last edition of rally Bulgaria in Borovets in 2015. This season he won the first "sea" edition of the most prestigious Bulgarian rally in Varna.

Ketbi and his co-driver are leaders at the current classification of European Rally Cup - Balkans. They are leading with 146 points in front of the Turkish crew Yagiz Avci /Bahadir Gucenmez with 111 points, and the Bulgarians Jordan Atanasov/Yanaki Yanakiev at the third place with 90 points.