DEAD SEA, JORDAN – Oman’s Abdullah Al-Rawahi and local co-driver Ata Al-Hmoud were the shock leaders of the Jordan Rally after a dramatic Friday on the stages of the Dead Sea and Jordan Valley.
The Škoda Fabia Evo crew looked set for second until runaway leaders Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah and Mathieu Baumel broke a front-right driveshaft on the start line of the second Jordan River stage, losing 2min 39sec and finishing the loop in two-wheel drive. The Qatari trails by 2min 33.4sec overnight.
We started not as we expected. We wanted to be closer to Nasser on the first loop. Unfortunately, we lost a lot on the second stage. Then he had a fault with his car and we managed to take the lead. It’s a good lead for tomorrow. We will go in now with a different strategy to try and keep that lead. Nothing is impossible. These stages are some of my favourite and tomorrow’s stages are quite familiar as well. Let’s see how it goes…
Abdullah Al-Rawahi
Day one, we started three stages very smooth and we are leading and then we had an issue with a driveshaft for three stages. We have been quiet to manage to finish all the stages. I am happy to start again tomorrow. It will be another target and we try to push. The race will be interesting. We need to be flat out. It is always nice to win Jordan!
Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah
MERC2 battle
Kuwait’s Meshari Al-Thefiri and Qatar’s Nasser Al-Kuwari duelled with Lebanon’s Roger Feghali and Joseph Matar for four stages. Feghali led until stage three, but an alternator belt failure on his Mitsubishi in stage five let Al-Thefiri finish third overall and lead MERC2. Feghali later withdrew.
I am happy for this result. We work hard. We take more experience and the set-up for the car is ready before the rally. I will drive the same and hold position. I am comfortable now. This rally is very tough.
Meshari Al-Thefiri
Jordan’s Shaker Jweihan and Oman’s Taha Al-Zadjali are fourth, 1min 54.1sec behind Al-Thefiri, with Sheikh Bader Al-Fayez and Emad Juma fifth.
It was a tough day. Jordan River was the stage of the day. I am driving on a normal gearbox. I was trying to be in the mix and trying to be up there if anything happened – and it happened with Roger. I know the stages tomorrow and they are tricky with a lot of crests. Hopefully, we will keep the pressure on.
Shaker Jweihan
Friday as it happened
Al-Attiyah was fastest on the opening Yakrut stage (9.49km), with Feghali leading MERC2 by 1.8 seconds; Ameer Nassif’s Subaru failed before the start. On the 40.79km Jordan River stage, near the frontier with the Occupied Territories, Al-Attiyah’s 28min 10.6sec put him 58.8 seconds clear, while defending MERC2 champion Issa Abu Jamous stopped with mechanical problems. He led by 1min 01.7sec after Baptism Site (11.34km), with Al-Thefiri 18.2 seconds ahead of Feghali in MERC2.
Everything went well this morning and it all went to plan. I am just going to keep pushing the car and try and open up a lead.
Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah
We went in this morning with a combination of soft and hard (tyres). We lost a bit of time on the first one, although we were pushing, but the main loss was in Jordan River. It was completely soft and we were half hard and half soft. I did a few mistakes as well. Let’s see on the second run how we can improve.
Abdullah Al-Rawahi
It’s taking some time to get back on gravel. It’s been around nine years. Just trying to get used to it. I will try and push a little bit more on the second loop.
Roger Feghali
Al-Attiyah improved by 2.9 seconds on the second Yakrut pass before his transmission failed on Jordan River. Unable to attack on Baptism Site, where he was 43 seconds slower than in the morning, he fell 2min 09.9sec behind, and the deficit grew to 2min 33.4sec after the final stage.
Saturday features two loops of Bahath (12.58km), Suwayma (11.08km) and Ma’in (17.00km) from 10:24, with a lunchtime service at the Dead Sea before the ceremonial finish at the Dead Sea Marriott Resort and Spa.