Abdullah Al-Rawahi Storms Into Commanding Lead at Oman Rally

Abdullah Al-Rawahi won all six stages on day one of Oman Rally Sohar International 2021 to lead by 13min 40.2sec.

Khaled Karam · 2 min read
Abdullah Al-Rawahi's Škoda splashing through a wadi in Oman
Abdullah Al-Rawahi is the defending Oman Rally winner.

Abdullah Al-Rawahi dominated the first leg of Oman Rally Sohar International 2021, building a 13min 40.2sec lead after Friday’s six stages.

With Jordanian co-driver Ata Al-Hmoud, the Omani won every twisty, technical stage in his new SRT Škoda Fabia Evo and is well on course to become the first local driver to win a round of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship. His only worry was a rear puncture near the end of SS3, though he finished the stage without trouble.

Zakariyah and Mohammed Al-Amri are second overall and lead MERC2 at the overnight halt, with Qatar’s Nasser Khalifa Al-Atya and Italian co-driver Giovanni Bernacchini close behind in third in their Ford Fiesta R5, despite losing time on the fourth stage, Al-Khoud, with a left-rear puncture.

Jordanians Ihab Al-Shorafa and Asem Aref are fourth and fifth, with Aref on course to clinch the MERC3 title on Saturday in his two-wheel-drive Renault Clio RS.

Oman’s Jarah Al-Touqi and Faisal Al-Rashdi complete the international order in their Subarus. Al-Touqi recovered from engine trouble on SS2, while mechanical problems cost Al-Rashdi time several times.

Round-one winner Haitham Al-Soomar led the early part of the second round of the Oman Rally Championship in his Mitsubishi Lancer, but lost the lead and the win to Hamed Al-Qasmi on stage six and finished third behind Waheeb Al-Khuraisi’s Toyota Yaris.

Saturday

Crews face six more stages before the ceremonial finish at Al-Qurum. Abyad (13.09km), Qalqal (17.17km) and Nakhal (19.26km) come before a regroup and service, then are repeated in the afternoon ahead of the prize-giving and podium from 16.52hrs.

Positions after SS6

  • 1. Abdullah Al-Rawahi (OMN)/Ata Al-Hmoud (JOR) Škoda Fabia Evo 1hr 21min 31sec
  • 2. Zakariya Al-Amri (OMN)/Mohammed Al-Amri (OMN) Subaru Impreza STi 1hr 35min 11sec
  • 3. Nasser Khalifa Al-Atya (QAT)/Giovanni Bernacchini (ITA) Ford Fiesta R5 1hr 36min 17sec
  • 4. Ihab Al-Shorafa (JOR)/Emad Juma (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 1hr 43min 28sec
  • 5. Asem Aref (JOR)/Ahmad Jankhout (JOR) Renault Clio RS 2hr 09min 24sec
  • 6. Jarah Al-Touqi (OMN)/Issa Al-Wardi (OMN) Subaru Impreza STi 2hr 15min 24sec
  • 7. Faisal Al-Rashdi (OMN)/Waleed Al-Rashdi (OMN) Subaru Impreza WRX 2hr 24min 53sec