Latest news with #JordanMotorsport
Qatar Tribune
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Qatar Tribune
Al Attiyah leads impressive entry list for Jordan Rally
Tribune News Network Amman The upcoming Jordan Rally will be the fourth round of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) and Jordan Motorsport has announced that 22 cars grace the official entry list for the event taking place on May 29 th -31 st . Crews will tackle a dozen special stages and 196.30 competitive kilometres in the Dead Sea and Jordan Valley areas. The event will also count towards the new Junior and Master Championships for Drivers. Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah and Candido Carrera head the field after winning the opening three rounds of the season in Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. They will be aiming to defend a 31-point lead over Rakan Al-Rashed and Hugo Magalhaes in their respective MERC Drivers' and Co-drivers' Championships. The record 16-time winner of the event lays trust in his Autotek Skoda Fabia RS Rally2. A total of eight Rally2 machines grace the entry list: defending regional champion Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, the 2023 MERC champion Abdullah Al Rawahi, Qatari Nasser Khalifa Al Atya, Bassal Abu Hamdan and the Jordanian duo of Sheikh Bader Al Fayez and Ihab Al Shorafa complete the list. Both local drivers have entered Skoda Fabias. Oman's Zakariya Al Aamri and Abdullah Al Zubair are currently locked in their own battle for supremacy in the FIA MERC2 category in a pair of Subarus and they head a list of seven crews aiming for showroom class honours. Local knowledge may favour the defending regional champion Shaker Jweihan, while Kuwait's Jassim Al Muqahwi and Salem Al Dhafeeri, Lebanon's Shadi Al Fakih and Palestine's Hamada Uda round off the MERC2 field. All five challengers to the front- running Omani duo wheel out Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Xs. Qatari Rashid Al Mohannadi has a commanding lead in the two-wheel drive FIA MERC4 category after three rounds. He faces competition from young Qatar Academy drivers, Mohammed Al Marri and Saad Al Harqan, and Indian driver Payyakkal Panikkaveettil (Ford Fiesta). All three Qataris drive French-built Peugeot 208s.
Jordan Times
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Jordan Times
Jordan Rally to host 22 cars for Middle East championship's 4th round
Crews will tackle a dozen special stages and 196.30 competitive kilometres in the Dead Sea and Jordan Valley areas (Photo courtesy of Jordan Motorsport) AMMAN — Jordan Motorsport on Monday announced that 22 cars grace the official entry list for the upcoming Jordan Rally, which will be the fourth round of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) taking place between May 29 and 31. Crews will tackle a dozen special stages and 196.30 competitive kilometres in the Dead Sea and Jordan Valley areas. The event will also count towards the new Junior and Master Championships for Drivers, according to a Jordan Motorsport statement. Nasser Attiyah and Candido Carrera head the field after winning the opening three rounds of the season in Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. They will be aiming to defend a 31-point lead over Rakan Rashed and Hugo Magalhães in their respective MERC Drivers' and Co-drivers' Championships. The record 16-time winner of the event lays trust in his Autotek Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. A total of eight Rally2 machines grace the entry list: defending regional champion Abdulaziz Kuwari, the 2023 MERC champion Abdullah Rawahi, Qatari Attiyah, Bassal Abu Hamdan and the Jordanian duo of Sheikh Bader Fayez and Ihab Shorafa complete the list. Both local drivers have entered Škoda Fabias. Oman's Zakariya Aamri and Abdullah Zubair are currently locked in their own battle for supremacy in the FIA MERC2 category in a pair of Subarus and they head a list of seven crews aiming for showroom class honours. Local knowledge may favour the defending regional champion Shaker Jweihan, while Kuwait's Jassim Muqahwi and Salem Dhafeeri, Lebanon's Shadi Fakih and Palestine's Hamada Uda round off the MERC2 field. All five challengers to the front-running Omani duo wheel out Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Xs. Qatari Rashid Mohannadi has a commanding lead in the two-wheel drive FIA MERC4 category after three rounds. He faces competition from young Qatar Academy drivers, Mohammed Marri and Saad Harqan, and Indian driver Payyakkal Panikkaveettil (Ford Fiesta). All three Qataris drive French-built Peugeot 208s. The local duo of Shadi Shaban and Mohammed Shorafa and Lebanon's Joanna Hasoun round off the entry in a trio of Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IXs. All but two of the 22 entrants are registered for the MERC.
Daily Tribune
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Tribune
Rally Jameel 2025 kicks off in Jordan
TDT | Petra Rally Jameel, the first women-only navigational rally in the Middle East, kicked off its fourth edition in the historic city of Petra, marking its first-ever cross-border expansion beyond Saudi Arabia. The opening ceremony welcomed key Jordanian figures, including Dr. Fares Braizat, Chief Commissioner of PDTRA; EYazan Mahadin, PDTRA Tourism Commissioner; Emad Ali Al Helalat, PDTRA Tourism Director; Mr. Muayyad Abu Rumman, CEO of JHRC; and Mr. Zaid Balqez, CEO of Jordan Motorsport. Spanning five days and 1,600 kilometres, the rally charts a course from Petra through Tabuk, AlUla, Hail, and ends in Qassim. The route highlights the natural beauty and cultural heritage of both Jordan and Saudi Arabia, echoing the ancient Nabataean trade routes that once linked Petra and AlUla. This year, 41 teams representing 37 countries are taking part, with four teams unable to conf i r m participation due to minor logistical issues. Rally Jameel continues to grow as a global platform for women in motorsport, promoting empowerment, inclusion, and regional tourism. Munir Khoja, Managing Director at Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, said: 'Launching Rally Jameel in Petra is a pivotal step toward elevating women's motorsport while expanding Saudi Arabia's global sporting presence.' Zaid Balqez of Jordan Motorsport added: 'This partnership reflects our shared vision to position the Middle East as a destination for inclusive, worldclass motor - sport experiences.' Rally Jameel 2025 is the most ambitious edition yet—combining adventure, cultural exchange, and sporting excellence. It strengthens the region's role in the global motorsport scene while celebrating the resilience, talent, and leadership of women drivers.
Jordan Times
03-04-2025
- Automotive
- Jordan Times
Baja Jordan to kick off in Aqaba next week with 'record' participation
This year marks the debut of the FIM Asia Cup for Bikes and Quads, in addition to the national edition of Baja Jordan, featuring the Wadi Al Qamar Navigation Rally for the second time (File photo) AMMAN — The Jordan Motorsport on Thursday announced the "largest-ever" participation in the history of Baja Jordan, which serves as the second round of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas and the Middle East Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, as well as the third round of the FIM World Cup for Bikes and Quads. This year also marks the debut of the FIM Asia Cup for Bikes and Quads, in addition to the national edition of Baja Jordan, featuring the Wadi Al Qamar Navigation Rally for the second time, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The event is scheduled to kick off next Thursday in Aqaba and will run for two days. The prologue stage will take place at 1:50pm on Thursday at the South Beach in Aqaba, followed by the official opening ceremony at 5:15pm in the Arab Revolt Plaza. The closing ceremony, awards distribution, and press conference will be held on April 12 at the same location at 5:30pm. A total of 33 competitors have confirmed their participation in the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, along with 16 riders in the FIM World Cup for Bikes and Quads. Additional participants will compete in the National Baja Jordan and the Wadi Al Qamar Navigation Rally. Among the 33 FIA competitors, 11 will be vying for championship points, while 14 out of 22 racers will compete for points in the Middle East Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, which consists of four rounds: Baja Saudi Arabia (January 31 - February 2), Baja Jordan (April 10-12), Baja Qatar (November 6-8), and Baja Dubai (November 20-23).
Jordan Times
19-02-2025
- Automotive
- Jordan Times
Jordan Motorsport announces Jordan Baja to run in mid-April
Competitors in stunning Wadi Rum at the 2024 Jordan Baja (Jordan Motorsport photos) AMMAN — Jordan Motorsport has announced details of the Jordan Baja, the second round of this year's FIA World and Middle East Baja Cups and round three of the FIM Bajas World Cup. The event has switched from a November date and will be based out of the Red Sea city of Aqaba on April 10th-12th. A round of the premier FIA off-road series since 2019 and the FIM championship since 2021, the event runs for three days and utilises terrain with the backdrop of some of the most spectacular desert vistas on the planet. After a short Prologue stage on April 10th to determine the starting order for the opening selective section, competitors will attend the traditional ceremonial start procedure at the Arab Revolt Plaza on the outskirts of southern Aqaba from 17.15hrs. Competitive action then switches to the awe-inspiring Wadi Rum region in southern Jordan for a first stage of 334.13km on April 11th. This will be split into two timed sections of 200.60km and 133.53km. The Hashemite Kingdom's premier off-road event will then use a shorter stage of 185.30km on April 12th before the return to Aqaba for the ceremonial finish, prize giving and post-event press conference at the Arab Revolt Plaza from 17.30hrs. In a total route of 749.30km, 522.43km will be timed against the clock in a challenging route laid on by Jordan Motorsport under Zaid Balqez, the chairman of the Organising Committee, Clerk of the Course Khaled Zakaria and their experienced organising team. George Khoury will act as clerk of the course for the FIM event. 'We are pleased to be holding the Baja earlier in the season, where the weather will be slightly more consistent and competitors are just starting out on their programme of events for 2025,' said Zaid Balqez. 'Southern Jordan offers stunning terrain and a sensational back drop for our regional and international competitors. Many of the visual images from the event have already become iconic in cross-country motorsport and we are sure that this year's Baja will build upon the successes of the last few years.' The 2025 Jordan Baja will be based at the Westin Saraya Aqaba Resort and Spa for the first time. Entries are now open with the closing date set for Wednesday, March 26th. Emirati driver Khalid Al Jafla teamed up with Andrei Rudnitski to claim a maiden victory in Jordan last November and he also secured maximum points in the competitive Challenger category with his Taurus T3 Max. That win in the FIA category followed previous successes for Poland's Jakub Przygonski (Mini) and the Saudi Arabian duo of Yasir Seaidan (Mini) and Saleh Al Saif (Can-Am) in 2019, 2021 and 2022. The UAE's Mohammed Al Balooshi has been the man to beat on two wheels since 2019 and earned a fourth win last November on his KTM 450 Rally on his way to the FIM Bajas World Cup title. Saudi riders have dominated the quad category since its inception in 2021 with Faisal Al Suwayh, Abdulmajeed Al Khulaifi and Abdulaziz Al Shayban claiming a win apiece on their Yamahas.
