Daunting new stage to kickstart Jordan Rally action
Dead Sea (Jordan)
A first pass through the daunting new 32km Tal Hilali special stage will kickstart the action at the 2025 Jordan Rally on Friday morning.
Competitors led by 16-time event winner Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah and his Spanish co-driver Candido Carrera will then tackle a further 11 gravel stages over two days before the ceremonial finish at the lowest place on earth on Saturday afternoon.
Twenty-one FIA cars and an additional seven crews competing only in two separate national rallies will compete this weekend.
The event was officially flagged away from a new start venue at the Royal Automobile Club of Jordan (RACJ) after the pre-event press conference on Thursday evening. Teams had put their cars through customary technical scrutineering at the Dead Sea where a couple of potential front-runners were upbeat about their chances for the weekend.
Oman's Abdullah Al Rawahi won the event outright in 2023 on his way to the MERC title.
He said: 'This year has been very tough for us. We haven't had the results I was expecting. We have been trying really hard to push and close the gap to Nasser in terms of pace. Every year we try to learn more and more. The first three rallies didn't go as expected, especially in Oman. The first day we had to retire, in Qatar we got faster and faster and then we had punctures in Saudi Arabia.
'Jordan is where I started. It is different to other years but I love the terrain and the stages. They are tough. It is very slippery and the notes have to be precise. We are coming here to try and take the win. I am prepared better than last year where we were leading and had to retire.'
Defending regional champion Abdulaziz Al Kuwari praised the condition of the rally tracks.
The Citroën C3 driver said: 'I would like to thank the people who prepared the stages. They are amazing.'
Thirty-five-year-old Rakan Al Rashed is taking part in the event for the third time after retiring a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX in 2016 and 2017 alongside Finnish co-driver Jarkko Kalliolepo. He is aiming for a podium finish on Saturday evening to continue his quest to become the regional champion.
Rashid Al Muhannadi could mathematically confirm the FIA MERC4 title this weekend with two rounds to spare in the absence of rookie rival Mohammed Al Marri.
The Qatari said: 'This is my first time in Jordan. The stages are nice but quite demanding and technical. I like the rally. I am looking to forward to it and I hope to win the championship.'
On Friday, the opening Tal Hilali special starts at 09.44hrs and features a small section of the former Bahath special in the Jordan Valley and precedes runs through a high-speed Karameh (11.08km) stage and a special at the Baptism Site (11.34km) close to the Dead Sea.
The three stages will then be then repeated in the afternoon after a return to the Dead Sea for a midday regroup and service.
Follow the race live: https://live.chronomoto.com/jordanrally/
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
10 minutes ago
- Qatar Tribune
Al Rabban Racing's Gewan extends unbeaten record with Gr3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes win
Tribune News Network Gewan (Night Of Thunder) confirmed himself as an exciting colt for the future with a stylish win in the Gr.3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes over 1400m at York on Wednesday. The 2-year-old, trained by Andrew Balding, carried the colours of Al Rabban Racing and was ridden for the first time by jockey P. J. McDonald. Winner on debut at Newbury last month over the same distance where he impressed with his raw ability, Gewan remains unbeaten from two starts and has now made the step up to Group company look effortless. The race brought together a field of seven juveniles. Breaking well, Gewan settled in second, racing wide near the leader May Angel (Dark Angel). The favourite, Distant Storm (Night Of Thunder), pulled hard and struggled to settle while Italy (Wootton Bassett) was forced to race three wide at the rear. Travelling strongly as the race unfolded, Gewan loomed up on the leader, with the favourite trying to sneak a run up the inside but already under pressure. Still on the bridle when others were hard at work, Gewan quickened decisively inside the 400m to take control. He stayed on strongly to fend off the late challenge of Italy, winning by a length and a half. Italy finished second, while Distant Storm kept on for third. Bred by Overbury Stallions Ltd & Dukes Stud, Gewan is out of Grey Mystere (Lethal Force), a winner over 1400m at two and third in Listed company over 1600m at the same age. Grey Mystere is a half-sister to Ginalyah (Chachnak), a winner over 2200m at three and runner-up at Listed level over 2100m at the same age, and to Cream Ice (Territories), a triple winner over 2000m at three and four.
Qatar Tribune
33 minutes ago
- Qatar Tribune
Aspire Academy football student-athletes kick off pre-season with camp in Bulgaria
Tribune News Network Doha The Aspire Academy football teams kicked off their first pre-season with the 2010, 2011 and 2012-13 generation players travelling to Bansko, Bulgaria, for a training camp held from August 7 to 16. The season ahead promises to be an exciting one with many Aspire Academy players and graduates aiming to be included in the final Qatar squad for the upcoming FIFA Under-17 World Cup, which is being hosted at the Academy in November. With the Under-17 World Cup now an annual tournament, instead of biennial, and the next five editions all being hosted by Qatar, all of Aspire Academy's young footballers will be keen to develop and impress enough to represent the nation at future editions of the tournament. A total of 64 players spent 10 days, from August 7 to 16, working not only on developing their football skills but also improving their fitness levels ahead of the 2025-25 football season. In addition to outdoor sessions, the student-athletes also participated in several whiteboard meetings with their coaches to discuss tactics and strategies. The youngsters had the chance to discover more about their surroundings in the Bulgarian mountains, including Pirin National Park. Inaki Gonzalez Abdia, Technical Coordinator for Aspire Academy's Football Department, explained the main aims of the pre-season trip to Bulgaria. 'This marks our official return to activity after the off-season break. The main objective is to reignite the competitive mindset of our players while setting the foundations for the season ahead,' he said. 'Bansko, Bulgaria, is the perfect location to begin this journey. The camp benefits from great training facilities and an ideal environment that allows our players to focus fully on performance, learning, and improving team cohesion.' 'This first stage of preseason is crucial; it allows us not only to introduce and reinforce our game principles but also to reconnect with the players, align on individual development plans, and promote the values that define our academy. 'Away from the pitch, we place strong emphasis on healthy habits, professional routines, and creating a 24-hour high-performance culture. That extends to rest, nutrition, and mental preparation. This comprehensive approach ensures every player is equipped to grow both as an athlete and as an individual.' The pre-season continues for the same generations, with a trip to Slovenia from August 22 until September 2, where they will continue their training and also play some friendly games. Coming up for the under-11 feeder team, for the 2014 generation, is a tournament in Ulduz, Azerbaijan, from 24th August. The student-athletes are due to return to Aspire Academy full-time for the sporting and academic development on September 7 as the new school year begins.
Qatar Tribune
an hour ago
- Qatar Tribune
Draw for 2025 Gulf Cup U-17 held
Tribune News Network Doha The stage is set for the 2025 Gulf Cup U-17, the official draw foe which was conducted virtually on Wednesday by the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF) in Doha. Qatar, as hosts of this year's tournament taking place from September 20 to October 2, will lead Group A, joined by the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen. Group B will be spearheaded by Iraq, who were also seeded in the top tier, alongside Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait. The eight participating teams were divided into four seeding levels according to their global rankings. Qatar and Iraq were placed in Level 1, followed by UAE and Saudi Arabia in Level 2, Bahrain and Oman in Level 3, and Kuwait and Yemen in Level 4. This edition of the Gulf Cup U-17 is expected to showcase high-calibre competition as the region's top youth squads gear up for future continental and international challenges. The event plays a key developmental role in nurturing Gulf's emerging football talent and strengthening inter-Gulf cooperation in youth sports under a shared vision of footballing excellence.
