The engines of the 44th Coral Rally of Lebanon officially roar into life at 8:50pm on Friday, September 2, 2022 at the ATCL headquarters in Kaslik, launching the “star” of Middle East rallies. The asphalt event is the fifth and final round of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship, organised by the Automobile and Touring Club of Lebanon (ATCL) under the patronage of President of the Republic General Michel Aoun.
The rally covers 478.83km, including 286.53km across 10 special stages.
Al-Attiyah vs Feghali
34 cars will take part, six of them R5s – a significant number compared with previous entries at rallies in the region. The field is headed by Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah, a record and legendary 18-time Middle East champion and one-time Rally of Lebanon winner, and Lebanon’s Roger Feghali, holder of a record and equally legendary 15 Rally of Lebanon titles, the latest last year – a record that will be very hard for anyone to beat. Tamer Ghandour and Bassel Abu Hamdan are expected to provide strong competition.
Al-Attiyah has already won three of this year’s four MERC rounds – Oman, Qatar and Jordan – and finished second in Kuwait behind compatriot Khalid Al-Suwaidi. He leads the provisional standings on 149 points, 78 ahead of Oman’s Abdullah Al Rawahi on 71. While Feghali chases a 16th win, Al-Attiyah aims to dethrone him and claim the title so dear to him for a second time.
Three of the entrants have won the Rally of Lebanon before: Feghali, Al-Attiyah (2019) and Ghandour (2016).
Other battles
Behind the leaders, a fight is expected for Group N, notably between Rodrigue Rahi and Alex Feghali, and for the front-wheel-drive class, led by Lebanese championship leader Elias Dehni and Henry Kahy, who returns from injury.
One woman driver, Joanna Hassoun, takes part, along with two female co-drivers, France Souhaid and Dolyne Chlink.
Friday programme
The rally, which involves 700 personnel, runs over three days in the Keserwan, Jbeil and Batroun districts. Friday evening opens with a classic car display from 7pm, a friendly race for classic cars and drift demonstrations by Rony Daraoui and Paul Ksaifi, before the first car starts the opening super special at 8:50pm.
Entry list
- 1 Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (Qatar) / Matthieu Baumel (Andorra) – Volkswagen Polo GTI
- 2 Abdullah Al Rawahi (Oman) / Ata Al Hamoud (Jordan) – Skoda Fabia
- 3 Nasser Khalifa Al-Attiyah (Qatar) / Giovanni Bernacchini (Italy) – Ford Fiesta
- 4 Mshari Al-Thefiri (Kuwait) / Nasser Al-Kuwari – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10
- 5 Henry Kahy / Carlos Hanna – Citroën DS3
- 6 Roger Feghali / Joseph Matar – Volkswagen Polo GTI
- 7 Rodrigue Rahi / George Chehwan – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10
- 8 Alex Feghali / Marc Haddad (France) – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10
- 9 Tamer Ghandour / Salim Jleilaty – Skoda Fabia
- 10 Bassel Abu Hamdan / Firas Elias – Skoda Fabia
- 11 Rabih Ayoub / Georges Nader – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10
- 12 Joseph Hindi / Vicken Kanledjian – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10
- 14 Chadi Fakieh / Samer Sfeir – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9
- 15 Elias Dehni / Amine Akl – Citroën DS3
- 16 Carl Rizk / Karim Abou Elias – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8
- 17 Mohammad Al-Thefiri (Kuwait) / Elie Moussallem – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10
- 18 David Mezher / Chady Nasr – Citroën DS3
- 19 Albert Hayek / Louay Sakr – Renault Clio
- 20 Ahmad Khaled / Musa Djiyerian (Jordan) – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10
- 21 Tarek Younis / Rony Bou Abdo – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9
- 22 Raafat Al Mohtar / Omar Mazkour – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9
- 23 Ihab Al-Shurafa / Yousef Juma (Jordan) – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10
- 24 Yousef Al-Dhafeeri (Kuwait) / Ziad Bardawil – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10
- 25 Joseph Salem / Rony Maroun – Peugeot 208
- 26 Tony Germanos / Elie Mhanna – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9
- 27 Issa Abu Jamous / Emad Juma (Jordan) – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9
- 28 Jean Bassil / Rony Abou Elias – Renault Clio RS
- 29 Sami Daou / Wissam Daou – Peugeot 206
- 30 Gaby Kahy / Ramy Menhem – Renault Clio
- 31 Walid Schlink / Andre Achkouty – Renault Clio
- 32 Nidal Al Jurdi / Adham Al Jawhari – Renault Clio
- 33 Charbel Chebli / Dolyne Chlink – Suzuki Swift
- 34 Jason Wehbe / Gary Koundakjian – Skoda Fabia
- 35 Joanna Hassoun / France Souhaid – Renault Clio