Latest news with #AbdullahalRawahi
Observer
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Observer
Al Rawahi holds second place at the Jordan Rally
JORDAN: Oman Rally Team star Abdullah al Rawahi delivered one of the best performances of his career on the first day of the Jordan Rally. After six demanding gravel stages in the Dead Sea and Jordan Valley areas, the Autotek Škoda Fabia driver trailed the 19-time FIA Middle East champion Nasser Saleh al Attiyah by just 13.5 seconds. This was despite a slow puncture towards the end of the last stage. Al Rawahi and his Jordanian co-driver Ata al Hmoud are bidding to win the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) title for a second time, as well as trying to win the event in Jordan once again. The performance today also netted them the win in the opening round of the Jordan National Championship. At the end of a dramatic day, where Al Attiyah and Al Rawahi were the class of the entire field. Al Rawahi said: 'I think this rally overall is very tough and it is not easy to challenge Nasser over these stages. He has won it 16 times. Being just behind him and able to take some time, I am very happy. Tomorrow, is another day. We must also remember that I have an older car. I think we should be happy with the result today. I think we are on the limit. I don't think we can push any harder and we don't want mistakes.' Al Rawahi was in scintillating form on the opening loop of three stages where he was more than a match for the road-sweeping Al Attiyah. The duo was separated by just 0.6 seconds on the 32 km opening speed test at Tal Hilali and then by a mere one-tenth of a second on stage two. But Al Rawahi was faster than his Qatari rival on the third stage of the loop at the historic Baptism Site and edged into a slender 0.8-second lead at the midday point. Ata al Hmoud and Abdullah al Rawahi (R) Al Rawahi said: 'It was a good day for us so far. The stages are quite tough and very tricky. We had a few moments but the times are good overall and we are leading after the first loop. I think we just need to keep focused and try to do our best. We need to be very consistent with our performance. You have no other choice but to go flat out. This afternoon, the same.' Saturday's remaining three stages are repeated twice with action getting underway with a run though the Panorama stage of 17.12 km. The first passes through the Suwayma and Wadi Nar specials complete the morning's loop. The three timed tests are repeated in the afternoon before the post-event press conference and traditional ceremonial finish at the Dead Sea. 2025 Jordan Rally — positions after SS6 (unofficial): 1. Nasser Saleh al Attiyah (QAT)/Candido Carrera (ESP) Škoda Fabia RS Rally 2 1 hr 16 min 10.7 sec 2. Abdullah al Rawahi (OMA)/Ata al Hmoud (JOR) Škoda Fabia R5 Rally 2 1 hr 16 min 24.2 sec 3. Abdulaziz al Kuwari (QAT)/Lorcan Moore (IRL) Citroën C3 Rally 2 1 hr 18 min 29.6 sec 4. Rakan al Rashed (KSA)/Hugo Magalhães (POR) Toyota GR Yaris Rally 2 1 hr 23 min 46.9 sec 5. Bassel Abu Hamdan (KSA)/Firas Elias (LBN) Škoda Fabia R5 Rally 2 1 hr 27 min 24.3 sec 6. Abdullah al Zubair (OMA)/Taha al Zadjali (OMA) Subaru Impreza N14 1 hr 27 min 43.4 sec 7. Nasser Khalifa al Attiyah (QAT)/Ziad Chehab (LBN) Ford Fiesta Mk II Rally 2 1 hr 28 min 01.5 sec 8. Shadi Shaban (JOR)/Samer Issa (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX (NAT) 1 hr 28 min 47,6 sec 9. Zakariya al Aamri (OMA)/Mohammed al Mazroui (OMA) Subaru Impreza N14 1 hr 31 min 25.9 sec 10. Ihab al Shurafa (JOR)/Ahmad Jankhout (JOR) Škoda Fabia Evo Rally 2 1 hr 32 min 51.6 sec 11. Rashid al Muhannadi (QAT)/Gary McElhinney (IRL) Peugeot 208 Rally 4 1 hr 32 min 57.0 sec 12. Sheikh Bader al Fayez (JOR)/Vili Oslaj (SLO) Škoda Fabia Rally 2 1 hr 33 min 42.4 sec 13. Shadi El Fakih (LBN)/Joseph Kmeid (LBN) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 1 hr 45 min 00.1 sec 14. Jassim al Muqahwi (KUW)/Suleiman al Helal (KUW) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 1 hr 46 min 32.3 sec
Observer
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Observer
Jordan Rally attracts 21 starters this weekend
AMMAN, Jordan: Twenty-one crews will tackle the opening two rounds of this year's Jordan National Championship that are being held In conjunction with days one and two of this weekend's Jordan Rally, round four of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC). Nine crews are eligible to score points in both the FIA event and the two national rallies with an additional 12 teams running at the rear of the field and solely targeting local championship points. Each of the two national events on Friday and Saturday will run over six gravel special stages in the Dead Sea and Jordan Valley areas. Oman's Abdullah al Rawahi is a former winner of the FIA event and is the top seed for national success, where he faces Rally2 opposition from Shaikh Bader al Fayez and Ihab al Shorafa, all three of whom drive Škoda Fabias this weekend. Defending MERC champion Abdulaziz al Kuwari and his co-driver Marshall Clarke won the Jordan National Championship last season, but the Qatari is not scoring points this year. He is solely targeting the FIA event in a Citroën C3. Al Fayez was the runner-up in the national series in 2024 with Shadi Shaban finishing third. Shaban also topped the standings in the NR4 group with Group MT success falling to Salama al Ghammaz and Hashim al Kalbouneh winning Group T in his Black Iris. Hashim al Kalbouneh Shaker Jweihan is the defending regional MERC2 champion and he will be aiming for national podium success in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X. Palestine's Hamada Uda also drives the latest version of the Mitsubishi and there are a fleet of Evo IXs for Shaban, Mohammed al Shorafa, Lebanon's Joanna Hassoun, Issa Abu Jamous and Fadi Dhashan. Fayez al Ghammaz and Faisal al Ghammaz wheel out older versions of the all-conquering Mitsubishi. Oman's Zakariya al Aamri is the current leader of the FIA MERC2 category and is also chasing Jordan National Championship points in his Subaru. Bader al Helalat, Amjad al Sheikh and Asem Aref drive older versions of the renowned Impreza rally car. Al Kalbouneh returns to action with his Black Iris and last year's FIA Middle East Baja Cup's Stock champion Majed al Thunayyan is making the trip from Saudi Arabia to tackle the event in a Nissan Patrol. The Jordanian trio of Yahia Sobar (Toyota FJ), Karim Badawi (Suzuki) and Farah Zakaria (Can-Am) round off the impressive national field. This year's Jordan Rally is supported by Zain Jordan, Guarantee Travel Group, Hala and Bliss FM, Markazia and Toyota Gazoo Racing Jordan. Shaikh Bader al Fayez 2025 Jordan National Rally – Entry List: 3. Abdullah al Rawahi (OMA)/Ata Al-Hmoud (JOR) Škoda Fabia R5 Rally 2 6. Sheikh Bader al Fayez (JOR)/Vili Oslaj (SLO) Škoda Fabia Rally 2 7. Ihab al Shurafa (JOR)/Ahmad Jankhout (JOR) Škoda Fabia Evo Rally 2 10. Shaker Jweihan (JOR)/Aisvydas Paliukenas (LTU) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 13. Zakariya al Aamri (OMA)/Mohammed al Mazroui (OMA) Subaru Impreza N14 15. Hamada Uda (PAL)/Mustafa Juma (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 20. Shadi Shaban (JOR)/Samer Issa (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 21. Mohammed al Shorafa (JOR)/Yazan Juma (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 22. Joanna Hassoun (LBN)/Sami Fleifel (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 30. Issa Abu Jamous (JOR)/Saqer Abu Jamous (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 31. Fadi Dahshan (JOR)/Raed Dahshan (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 32. Fayez al Ghammaz (JOR)/Salameh al Ghammaz (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI 33. Bader al Helalat (JOR)/Amer Mousa (JOR) Subaru Impreza 34. Faisal al Ghammaz (JOR)/Mamdouh Juma (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII 35. Amjad al Shaikh (JOR)/Abdullah Ibdah (JOR) Subaru Impreza 36. Asem Aref (JOR)/Musa Djiyerian (JOR) Subaru Impreza 37. Hashim al Kalbouneh (JOR)/Dergham Rustom (JOR) Black Iris Prototype 38. Majid al Thunayyan (KSA)/Fahed al Sufyani (KSA) Nissan Patrol Y61 39. Yahia Sobar (JOR)/Hamzeh Qabshoura (JOR) Toyota FJ Cruiser 40. Karim Badawi (JOR)/Walid Shabsogh (JOR) Suzuki Samarai 41. Farah Zakaria (JOR)/Bayan Zakaria (JOR) Can-Am Maverick
Observer
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Observer
Omani rally drivers all set for the new challenge in Jordan
The Omani rally drivers Abdullah al Rawahi, Zakariya al Amri and Abdullah al Zubair, are all set and prepared to take part in upcoming challenge in Jordan International Rally, the fourth round of the Middle East Rally Championship, which will gear up on Friday and Saturday with wide participation from different countries and competitors, including championship's leader, Qatari Nasser Al Attiyah, and the Saudi Rakan Al Rashid who is second overall and the third in the championship Abdullah al Rawahi. The Dead Sea stages and Jordan valley host the rally this year as usual, which consists of 12 stages over two days in Baptism, Panorama, Suwyma, Karamah, Tal Hilal and Wadi Nar, covering a distance of approximately 200 km as Special Stages. The Jordan International Rally, which is considered one of the toughest rallies in the region and also one of the most enjoyable at the same time, will of course witness strong competition between the most prominent names, Nasser Al Attiyah and Rakan Al Rashed, the Omani Abdullah al Rawahi, and the Qatari Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, in addition to a group of Jordanian drivers. In Merc 2 group the competition will be strong between Omanis Abdullah al Zubair and Zakariya al Amri for the lead in the Merc 2 (N category), as Al Amri still leads the category by 15 points over Al Zubair. A quick review of this rally shows that competition will not be easy between Al Attiyah and Al Rawahi, as both have long experience in the Jordan International Rally, Al Attiyah is the most successful driver there, meanwhile Al Rawahi is building his ambitions to win the rally, given that he started his rally carrier in Jordan rallies and has won numerous titles there, both in the Jordan National Rallies and the International Rallies including the MERC championship in 2023. Al Rawahi, who will be accompanied by Jordanian Atta Al Hamoud in the navigation seat, and on board a Skoda Fabia, explained that he will do his best in terms of effort and work inside the car to win this time and remove the bad luck that has plagued him in the past three rallies this year, despite many differences in the participating teams in terms of capabilities, technical teams and support. He said, "First, I would like to thank the supporters and sponsors , the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MoCSY), the Oman Automobile Association, OQ Group, National Finance, Al Manar, WMS, Strike, Size, and Zamakan for standing behind us in this championship'. He added that as everyone knows, the Jordan Rally is difficult especially in the Dead Sea and Jordan valley, in the hot weather and varied terrain, the other competitors' cars are better and newer than mine, but will not stop me from working on the stages and focusing on the race and we will leave the results until the end." As for the competitor Zakariya al Amri and his navigator Mohammed al Mazroui, on board a Subaru Impreza (N14), he has classified the rally as one of the most rugged rallies in some places, but we are now focused on maintaining the lead in the category and we are working on that in this rally. I am ready with my colleague Mohammed and we look forward to continuing the lead in the category and presenting a strong race. I would like to thank the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Oman Automobile Association and Al Fayhaa Real Estate Development for their support of this championship. Our other competitor, Abdullah al Zubair, and his well-known co-driver, Taha Soomar, are also participating in the rally in a Subaru Impreza. He is currently in second place in the Merc 2 category behind Zakariya al Amri and is aiming to reach the podium after his strong and distinguished performance in the Saudi Rally.
Observer
04-05-2025
- Automotive
- Observer
Al Zubair 1st in category N, Al Amri 3rd in Saudi International Rally
Champion Nasser al Attiyah won his third MERC rally championship this year after Oman and Qatar rallies, when he added Saudi International rally tittle to his treasure, the third round of the Middle East Rally Championship, after finishing the two-day race in first place, followed by Saudi Rakan al Rashed in second place, then Qatari Abdulaziz al Kuwari who gained the third place, meanwhile our young champion Abdullah al Rawahi finished fourth. Abdullah al Zubair and his navigator Taha Soomar snatched the title of the (N) category, Zakaria al Amri and his co-driver Mohammed al Mazrui came in third place behind the Lebanese Shadi al Faqih. The rally, which returned to the Middle East calendar after a long absence, was described as a difficult and arduous rally, especially the first day's stages. Three of the six stages were cancelled due various reasons, including safety issues and technical reasons. On the following day, six stages were held, and Al Attiyah was able to exchange the lead with the Finn, Juho Heinenen. Omani rally driver Abdullah al Rawahi and his British co-driver Whittack tried to make up for their first-day deficit by putting in a strong race pace on the second day and more pressure, closing the gap to the leaders, especially in the final stages. However, this proved to be of little help, as he finished fourth in the Middle East Championship drivers' standings. Abdullah al Zubair after finishing the rally confirmed that, 'My thanks to my assistant Taha Soomar, the technical team and everyone who stood behind us in this race and supported us. This race was really tiring for everyone and seven competitors left the rally due to various breakdowns. We initially set a clear strategy and our goal was to win the category lead.' Abdullah al Rawahi suffered from tire explosions on the first day and fell behind, however, he used his speed on the second day to improve his position and finished the race in fourth place, hoping to achieve a better result in the next race at the end of the month in the fourth round of the championship in Jordan. On the other side, Zakaria al Amri explained that the stages were difficult and resulted in many tire blowouts, but he was pleased to have earned the additional points and third place in the category in this rally and hopes to deliver a better race in Jordan.
Observer
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- Observer
Al Rawahi finishes Rally Saudi Arabia in 5th position
JEDDAH,SAUDI ARABIA: Abdullah al Rawahi overcame a series of flat tyres to finish fifth overall in the inaugural Jeddah-based Rally Saudi Arabia on Saturday. The Omani teamed up with British co-driver Ross Whittock and tackled two days of demanding action across new special stages to the east and north of the Red Sea city. The Oman Rally Team driver's progress in his Autotek Škoda Fabia RS was hampered by a series of flat tyres on Friday and more time lost on the penultimate stage on Saturday. But he was regularly third quickest on individual gravel stages behind eventual winner Nasser Saleh al Attiyah and Finnish runner-up Juho Hänninen. The points haul keeps him in contention for the Drivers' Championship as the 2025 FIA Middle East Rally Championship reached its halfway point. Al Rawahi said: 'It has been a disappointing rally for us. A lot of punctures. We are not sure why because we are not hitting rocks sideways. I don't know if it is luck or something to do with the tyres. We have a different compound tyre to Nasser but this is all we have. Today's stages were a bit more open but everyone was cutting.' The second day of Rally Saudi Arabia used three special stages to the north of Jeddah that were repeated twice. Al Rawahi began the day in fifth overall and consolidated that position after the opening Al Ghulah stage. He set the fourth fastest time on the first pass through Asfan and closed in on fourth-placed Abdulaziz al Kuwari, who sustained a puncture. The Omani was third quickest through the Thahban special and headed back to the service point in Jeddah well clear of sixth-placed Hamza Bakhashab and still within striking distance of Al Kuwari in fourth. Oman Rally Team's Abdullah al Rawahi in action at Rally Saudi Arabia. He was third quickest again on the re-run of the Al Ghulah stage but further tyre woes cost him vital time in the penultimate stage. But Al Rawahi finished the event on a high note with the second quickest time on the concluding Power Stage to secure additional points towards his regional championship campaign. The Oman Rally Team has received vital backing from Al Manar Investments, the Oman Automobile Association, WMS, Zamakan, OQ, Strike, Size, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MoCSY) and National Finance. Round four of the 2025 FIA Middle East Rally Championship takes place in Jordan on May 29—31. 2025 Rally Saudi Arabia — positions after SS12: 1. Nasser Saleh al Attiyah (QAT)/Candido Carrera (ESP) Škoda Fabia RS Rally 2 1hr 34min 05.5sec 2. Juho Hänninen (FIN)/Janni Hussi (FIN) Toyota GR Yaris Rally 2 1hr 35min 42.9sec* 3. Rakan al Rashed (KSA)/Hugo Magalhães (POR) Toyota GR Yaris Rally 2 1hr 39min 08.9sec 4. Abdulaziz al Kuwari (QAT)/Lorcan Moore (IRL) Citroën C3 Rally 2 1hr 40min 06.4sec 5. Abdullah al Rawahi (OMA)/Ross Whittock (GBR) Škoda Fabia RS Rally 2 1hr 43min 11.8sec 6. Hamza Bakhashab (KSA)/Marcin Pasek (POL) Can-Am Maverick R (SSV) 1hr 47min 11.7sec 7. Nasser Khalifa al Attiyah (QAT)/Ziad Chehab (LBN) Ford Fiesta Mk II Rally 2 1hr 49min 56.9sec 8. Abdullah al Zubair (OMA)/Taha al Zadjali (OMA) Subaru Impreza WRX Sti 1hr 55min 18.9sec 9. Bassel Abu Hamdan (KSA)/Firas Elias (LBN) Škoda Fabia Rally 2 2hr 00min 43.5sec 10. Rashid al Muhannadi (QAT)/Szymon Gospodarczyk (POL) Peugeot 208 Rally 4 2hr 02min 18.0sec 11. Shadi El Fakih (LBN)/Joseph Kmeid (LBN) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 2hr 02min 43.6sec 12. Ihab al Shurafa (JOR)/Ahmad Jankhout (JOR) Škoda Fabia RS Rally 2 2hr 02min 54.5sec 13. Zakariya al Aamri (OMA)/Mohammed al Mazroui (OMA) Subaru Impreza WRX Sti 2hr 07min 11.5sec 14. Shadi Shaban (JOR)/Samer Issa (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX (NAT) 2hr 11min 38.7sec 15. Mohammed al Marri (QAT)/Giovanni Bernacchini (ITA) Peugeot 208 Rally 4 2hr 48min 27.0sec
