Oman International Rally Gets Underway At SOHAR ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE On Thursday Afternoon

SOHAR: The Oman International Rally marks the beginning of a new season for Middle East rallying, set to commence from the Sohar Entertainment Centre (SEC) on Thursday afternoon.

Hosted by the Oman Automobile Association (OAA), this inaugural round of the 2025 FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) has drawn participation from 16 teams representing nine countries, alongside six crews competing in the Oman National Championship.

The event is overseen by Brigadier Jamal Said Al-Tai, with contributions from organising committee member Suleiman Al-Rawahi and Rally Director Anwar Al-Zadjali. The competition features three recent Middle East champions among a talented regional lineup, who will navigate 13 special stages covering 232.39 competitive kilometres over the next three days.

This MERC event is being held in the Al-Batinah North Governorate and the city of Sohar for the first time, although a national event took place in the region 12 years ago. All six gravel stages to the west of Sohar are newly designed, yet they retain the renowned fast and flowing characteristics of the breathtaking terrain found in the Sultanate.

Chris Hodgson, Chairman of the Organising Committee, noted: “This is a completely new route but it is very typically Oman, with wadis, hills, and loose gravel. The stages are situated midway between Muscat and Dubai. Sohar serves as Oman’s primary shipping hub and is arguably the fastest-growing city in the country.

“While the stages may appear straightforward, they present challenges. There are numerous spots that could surprise competitors. Some areas are quite narrow, and punctures remain a constant threat. We are the Oman Automobile Association, not the Muscat Automobile Association, and our goal is to bring the sport closer to the people.”

The Sohar Municipality has provided significant support and has taken all necessary steps to facilitate this initiative. We have collaborated closely with them and requested their assistance in supplying approximately 2,500 tonnes of recycled gravel for stage grading.

Top seed Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari concluded his inaugural Dakar Rally in fourth place within the Challenger category last week. However, the defending regional champion must quickly shift back to special stage mode this weekend. He will be driving a QMMF-supported Citroën C3 and has enlisted the expertise of Irish co-driver Lorcan Moore.

Similarly, Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah participated in the recent Dakar Rally, finishing fourth alongside his French navigator Edouard Boulanger. The duo will continue their partnership as the Qatari aims for a record eighth victory in Oman, driving an Autotek Motorsport-prepared Škoda Fabia RS. This event marks Boulanger's debut in the MERC.

Oman's Abdullah Al-Rawahi, along with his Jordanian co-driver Ata-Hmoud, is also competing in an Autotek Škoda. The local hero and 2023 regional champion is striving to achieve a hat-trick of wins at his home rally.

The QMMF has also backed an entry for Rashed Al-Muhannadi, who will be driving a Peugeot 208 Rally 4 with support from the Qatar Motorsports Academy. Irishman Gary Mcelhinney, who has raced in various countries including the USA, Spain, Tanzania, Zambia, and Barbados, will provide pace notes for the Qatari for the first time.

Rakan Al-Rashed stands out as a prominent rally driver in the Middle East, having recently established his reputation outside the MERC. The 35-year-old Saudi driver has partnered with Portugal’s Hugo Magalhães in a new Toyota GR Yaris Rally 2, aiming to challenge the established competitors in the series as he returns to regional events. In 2024, the pair participated in rallies across Sweden, Portugal, Finland, and Latvia, achieving a notable victory at the Finnish Jari-Pekka Ralli with their Printsport Toyota.

Additionally, Qatari veteran Nasser Khalifa Al-Atya will be behind the wheel of a fifth Rally 2 vehicle, accompanied by his Lebanese co-driver Ziad Chebab.

In the MERC2 category, six teams will compete in a lineup of Subarus and Mitsubishis. Leading the charge are the Jordanian duo of Shadi Shaban and Issa Al-Shorafa, who face competition from Oman’s Abdullah Al-Zubair and Zakariya Al-Aamri, Lebanon’s Ahmad Khaled, and India’s Mohamed Mansoor Parol.

Shadi El Fakih will drive last year’s MERC5-winning Renault Clio, while the Rally 4 entry for Al-Muhannadi comes from the Indian duo of Payyaakkal Panikkaveettil and Musa Sherif in their Ford Fiesta.

The field also includes two eligible T4 Can-Ams, driven by Saudi Arabia’s Ibrahim Al-Muhanna and Yosra Jazzar.

Notably, Hamza Bakhashab and Issa Abu Jamous did not register for the pre-event reconnaissance sessions, despite being listed in the original entries.

Tomorrow (Thursday), the official pre-event press conference is scheduled for 15:00, followed by the ceremonial start at the Sohar Entertainment Centre at 15:30. This marks the first time the start will occur indoors under the impressive dome. Competitors will then face the opening 2.55km Super Special stage, commencing at 16:43.

2025 Oman International Rally – updated entry list:

1. Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari (QAT)/Lorcan Moore (IRL) Citroën C3 Rally 2

2. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Edouard Boulanger (FRA) Škoda Fabia RS Rally 2

3. Abdullah Al-Rawahi (OMN)/Ata Al-Hmoud (JOR) Škoda Fabia RS Rally 2

4. Rashid Al-Muhannadi (QAT)/Gary McElhinney (IRL) Peugeot 208 Rally 4

5. Rakan Al-Rashed (SAU)/Hugo Magalhães (PRT) Toyota GR Yaris Rally 2

6. Nasser Khalifa Al-Atya (QAT)/Ziad Chehab (LEB) Ford Fiesta Mk II Rally 2

7. Shadi Shaban (JOR)/Samer Issa (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X

8. Ihab Al-Shurafa (JOR)/Ahmad Jankout (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X

10. Abdullah Al-Zubair (OMN)/Taha Al-Zadjali (OMN) Subaru Impreza

11. Ahmad Khaled (LEB)/ Samer Sfeir (LEB) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X

12. Zakariya Al-Aamri (OMN)/Mohammed Al-Mazroui (OMN) Subaru Impreza