September 12, 2016 – Tamer Ghandour clinched the 2016 Lebanese Rally Championship title and holds a provisional 39th Rally of Lebanon victory after enjoying his best season to date. However, these achievements did not come easy and they are the fruit of years of hard work.
Tamer’s racing career began with Motortune Racing in the 2006 Rally of Lebanon, which he successfully finished alongside co-driver Alain Georr in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI, but it wasn’t until his first full-time appearance in 2010 that he began to show his true potential.
Tamer and Alain Georr in the 2010 Rally of Lebanon
He made an outstanding comeback in 2010 after 3 years away from the sport, finishing 2nd in the opening round – the Spring Rally – and 4th in that year’s Rally of Lebanon to secure the runner-up spot in the Lebanese Rally Championship in his first full season. The cherry on the cake for Tamer was clinching the 2010 Lebanese Hill Climb Championship Group N title.
His impressive appearances carried over into 2011 as he secured the Group N class victory in the Cedars Rally, before eventually claiming 4th place in the Lebanese Rally Championship. Additionally, he defended his title in the Lebanese Hill Climb Championship to make it two consecutive Hill Climb titles.
Tamer and Salim Jleilaty in their first event together, the 2013 Spring Rally
The 2013 season marked another breakthrough for Tamer who claimed the Group N class victory in Rally of Lebanon in his first year alongside co-driver and good friend Salim Jleilaty, who remains Tamer’s support to this day.
Following a part-time program in 2014 during which he finished 3rd in Jezzine Rally, Tamer returned full-time in 2015 in a Mitsubishi Evo X. A mechanical problem denied him a shot at a class victory in Spring Rally, but he showed off his speed in Jezzine Rally by completing the event in 2nd place overall.
Tamer and Salim on their way to victory in the 2016 Rally of Lebanon
Tamer’s undeniable talent attracted a variety of sponsors, including Beit Misk, who announced their support for the driver ahead of the 2015 Rally of Lebanon; he did not fail to deliver as he went on to finish 3rd overall in the toughest event of the year.
The partnership resumed in 2016, and Beit Misk were right to put their trust in Tamer as he produced sensational performances throughout the year in his Mitsubishi Evo X R4, finishing 2nd in Spring Rally and scoring his maiden victory in Jezzine Rally to become a championship favorite.
A mechanical failure in 2016 Cedars Rally robbed him of valuable points but he made up for it in Rally of Lebanon by executing a flawless drive to victory and confirm his first Lebanese Rally Championship title. His victory in the 39th Rally of Lebanon was initiated by a penalty for Abdo Feghali, but that doesn’t make Tamer any less of a winner considering he drove his heart out and did not put a single foot wrong.
Armed with dedication and perseverance, Tamer demonstrated how to gradually and steadily climb the motorsport ladder. He now finds himself at the very top of that ladder.
Hard work pays off: first win in Rally of Lebanon and first Lebanese Rally Championship title
Tamer got his first taste of a Ford Fiesta R5 in Baabdat Hill Climb 2016. Will we see him defending his rally title in one next year?
Tamer and Salim celebrate their maiden victory at the 2016 Jezzine Rally
Tamer Ghandour pushing hard in the 2015 Jezzine Rally to finish 2nd overall
In Rally of Lebanon 2013, Tamer added to his achievements by securing the Group N class victory
Tamer was the fastest Group N driver in the 2011 Cedars Rally, securing the class win