26-05-2025
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
