RX Sport raises the bar for Arab motorsport on the international stage

Times of Oman

a day ago

DUBAI: Wednesday, August 13: Dubai-based RX Sport is a team led by veteran Emirati champion Rashid Al-Ketbi and is now raising the bar for motorsport on the international stage. It was founded just one month before the 2023 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.
After a career full of his own personal achievements, Al-Ketbi decided to use his experience and passion to support and develop Arab talent, especially after he was injured during a round of the FIA European Rally Championship.
This passion led the team to compete in the 2024 Dakar Rally, the world's toughest rally, only a few months after its debut in Abu Dhabi. In their second appearance at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, the team won the T4 category, solidifying their strong presence.
RX Sport's ambitions weren't limited to cross-country and Baja World Cup races. The team has also become a platform for celebrating Arab champions and has welcomed notable names like Yahya Al-Helei and his son Mansour, as well as Sheikh Khalid Al-Qassimi for the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.
While many racing teams exist in the UAE, they often operate on a local scale. This is where RX Sport stands out: it is the first Emirati team to compete internationally in cross-country and Baja rallies.
The team's ambition extends beyond just supporting drivers. It works hard to empower Arab navigators, most notably Khalid Al-Kindi, a step that affirms its comprehensive commitment to elevating motorsport in the region.
Omani rally star Hamad Al-Wahaibi joined RX Sport to compete in the FIA World Baja Cup this season. Al-Wahaibi believes the development of the sport in the region begins with supporting Arab teams, which is why he chose to continue his career under the banner of an Arab team striving for the top.
Al-Wahaibi is joined by Emirati navigator Khalid Al-Kindi on some events, resulting in strong performances that have placed them in contention for the SSV title. The pair still have more events this season, as they prepare for next year's racing programme with RX Sport.
Rashid Al-Ketbi shared his journey. He said: "After my accident in the European Championship, which resulted in a broken back, I couldn't stay away from motorsport, a sport that entered my mind and heart in 1992. That's where the idea to establish the team came from, so I could continue facing the challenges of this world."
"Today, we are competing in the FIA World Baja Cup with my brother and friend, Omani champion Hamad Al Wahaibi. We hold an advanced position after winning the Italian round and achieving second place in the rounds in Spain and Jordan. We are proud to have a champion with Hamad's experience and achievements in our ranks and we look forward to facing future challenges."
Al-Wahaibi also expressed his pride in joining the team. He said: "I am very happy to be with the RX Sport team. This team is ambitious, promising and has proven its worth and high standing in Arab and international motorsport."
"Rashid Al Ketbi is very ambitious and passionate about motorsport. He considers this sport the centre of his life and goes to extraordinary lengths to raise the Arab flag high on the international stage. I wish the team all the best and trust that all of their dreams, and Rashid's dreams, will come true in the near future."
Khalid Al-Kindi, who has known Rashid Al-Ketbi for a long time and says his 'testimony is biased' in his description, spoke about the team's importance: "What distinguishes the team is that it reflects Rashid Al-Ketbi's passion for motorsports. It's an Emirati team that competes in local and international championships."