In the first local Jordanian rally, MotorTune drivers Nicolas Amiouni and Chafic Boulos were present to contest in the race. Amiouni who was aiming for a win after an impressive result in WRC Jordan earlier this year was unfortunate and couldn’t continue the race after a start failure at the beginning of SS1. Amiouni who was prepared to hold the Lebanese flag on the highest podium step on Friday after Lebanese Rally Champ Roger Feghali did so last year, struggled to continue the first stage after what we can call “not his day”. On the other hand Chafic Boulos was contesting in his first event of his career on gravel and was undergoing this rally for experience went up to finish the rally 5th. Chafic who is considered a rookie on gravel gained a huge amount of experience and was happy with the whole course of the day and wanted to continue rallying on gravel after the race ended.
After both MotorTune drivers arrived to Lebanon we got the chance to meet them and capture their Impressions on what was somehow a 50/50 weekend for the team.
Nicolas Amiouni:
“We arrived on Thursday and aeverything was OK. We did the Recce and prepared the car and we were aiming for the win after our experience in WRC Jordan. Our main opponent was Mazen Tantash who we beat fair and square in the Jordan Rally earlier this year but we were unfortunate. We were sitting normally on Friday morning and preparing to start but when we took the car to the start line the unexpected happened. The starter didn’t work so we had to start the car abnormally and went on to drive around 500 meters in the stage were we did a small mistake and the car went off the track and we couldn’t start it again because the starter wasn’t working. So we retired. The mistake was our fault because our tyres were still cold and we pushed over the limit so it’s a pity. Anyway we are not sad because we didn’t finish or win the event we are sad because it was an opportunity for us to prepare for the Cyprus rally on July 2 and we missed the chance. The Ramman Rally in Jordan has very similar gravel characteristics like the one in the Cyprus.”
Chafic Boulos:
“We had a wonderful rally. It was a completely new experience since it was my first time on gravel and I am very satisfied with the results. Driving of gravel is completely different than driving on Asphalt. On Gravel there is a lot of correction you do even on the straights which is not the case at all on asphalt. We compared our times with our teammates that competed last year in this rally and we were really satisfied.
I would very glad to continue the championship in Jordan. I even woke on Saturday after the rally wanting to do it again but my budget is very tight. I am already over my budget because of the events in Lebanon although the plan was to do another round in Jordan. Anyway we will see what happens.”