Three FIA Middle East Rally Champions Top Bumper Entry For The Season's Opener In Oman

Muscat: The latest FIA Middle East rally champions, Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah, and Abdullah Al-Rawahi, lead a field of 23 competitors for the opening round of the regional series scheduled to take place in Oman from January 23rd to 25th.

The revamped Oman International Rally is being organized by the Oman Automobile Association (OAA) and will take place at the Sohar Entertainment Centre (SEC) starting January 19th.

This event has drawn participants from nine different countries, featuring seven crews in Rally 2, nine in Rally 3, and Rally 5 vehicles, along with two Can-Ams competing in T4. Additionally, five more entries are participating in the Oman National Championship, positioned at the back of the field.

Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah aims to secure his eighth victory in this event, partnering with his regular French co-driver Edouard Boulanger for the first time in the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC).

Boulanger, who is based in Switzerland, began his career as an enduro rider before transitioning to navigation, teaming up with notable drivers such as Peter Jerie, Khalid Al-Qassimi, and Dakar legend Stéphane Peterhansel. Currently, he and Al-Attiyah are pursuing success at the 47th Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia with the official Dacia team.

Al-Rawahi, a two-time champion of his home event in Oman, is once again partnering with Jordanian driver Ata Al-Hmoud. Meanwhile, defending MERC champion Al-Kuwari has enlisted the help of Irishman Lorcan Moore for the season opener in Sohar.

The Rally2 category features entries from Qatari veteran Nasser Khalifa Al-Atya, Indian competitor Payyaakkal Panikkaveettil, and Rashid Al-Muhannadi, who will be driving a Peugeot 208.

As the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia prepares to rejoin the regional series in May after a 15-year hiatus, several Saudi participants are set to compete, including rally cross and WRC regular Rakan Al-Rashed in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally 2, Hamza Bakhashab, the son of 1995 MERC champion Abdullah Bakhashab, and Ibrahim Al-Muhanna.

With last year’s FIA MERC2 champion Shaker Jweihan absent, fellow Jordanian Shadi Shaban leads the list of competitors in a lineup of Subarus and Mitsubishis. Other participants include local drivers Abdullah Al-Zubair and Zakariya Al-Aamri, Lebanon’s Ahmad Khaled, Jordan’s Issa Abu Jamous, and India’s Mohamed Mansoor Parol.

Shadi El Fakih is back to defend his FIA MERC5 title, driving his two-wheel drive Renault Clio, while Saudi driver Yosra Jazzar will join Al-Muhanna in a pair of T4 Can-Ams.

The entry list is further enhanced by five local teams vying for honors in the Oman National Championship.

The crew will navigate through 13 special stages, covering a total of 232.39 competitive kilometers within a route that spans 636.41 kilometers.

The 2025 event is chaired by Brigadier Jamal Said Al-Tai, with Suleiman Al-Rawahi serving on the organizing committee and Anwar Al-Zadjali as the Rally Director.

Entry list for the 2025 Oman International Rally:

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 2

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. Payyaakkal Panikkaveettil (IND)/Musa Sherif (IND) Ford Fiesta Rally 2

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

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

10. Issa Abu Jamous (JOR)/Saqer Abu Jamous (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X

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