The Oman Rally Team’s Abdullah Al-Rawahi and Jordanian co-driver Ata Al-Hmoud won the Oman International Rally for the second time in three years on Saturday.
After pre-event favourite Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah crashed on the opening super special, Al-Rawahi took the lead on the first of 12 gravel stages and, punctures aside, avoided major trouble to win by 6min 35.6sec in his Škoda Fabia Evo. The Omani became one of only 15 drivers ever to win more than one round of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship.
It was a great feeling to win my home rally for the first time two years ago and to do it again is very special. This is a perfect start to the championship for us and I would like to thank Ata for his efforts and the team for giving me such a strong car on what was a difficult rally.
Abdullah Al-Rawahi
Fastest time on the final stage allowed Petr Kačirek and Petra Řiháková to fend off a late charge from Al-Attiyah and secure second overall in their Duck Racing Škoda Fabia.
Al-Attiyah and Andorra-based co-driver Mathieu Baumel won 11 of the 13 stages, but the first-stage error damaged the Volkswagen’s radiator and a later time penalty for a seat belt infringement meant the task of challenging for victory was ultimately too great.
The Qatari finished third at the Muscat Drift Arena to keep the defence of his regional title on track. He might well have caught Kačirek for second had he not suffered a rear right puncture and driven 17km on the shredding tyre to the end of the final stage.
After what happened on Thursday, I suppose I am happy enough with the result. But I am disappointed to have the puncture on the last stage when second place was achievable. That’s rallying. I drove for 17km on a rear right puncture.
Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah
Al-Thefiri wins MERC2
Meshari Al-Thefiri and his Qatari co-driver Nasser Al-Kuwari were passed by Al-Attiyah on the afternoon loop, but the Kuwaiti finished fourth overall and secured MERC2 victory in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X. He had led outright on Thursday evening after winning the opening super special.
Al-Attiyah’s cousin Nasser Khalifa Al-Atya and Giovanni Bernacchini completed the top five in a Ford Fiesta R5, while Jordanians Shaker Jweihan and Nancy Al-Majali were sixth overall and second in MERC2.
Kuwait’s Yousef Al-Dhefiri overhauled Jordan’s Sheikh Bader Al-Fayez for seventh overall and third in the showroom category.
Jordan’s Ihab Al-Shorafa missed out on a finish after stopping in the final stage, lifting compatriot Shadi Shaban to ninth, with Lebanon’s Ahmad Khaled 10th. Omanis Abdullah Al-Zubair and Taha Soomar were the last of the 11 finishers.
Oman National Championship
Ghaith Al-Qasmi and Ahmed Salim won the day’s round of the Oman National Championship in their Mitsubishi, beating Faisal and Yaqdhan Al-Rashdi by 2min 15.8sec. Mutasim and Nofel Al-Balushi were third.
Friday’s winners, Issa Abu Jamous and Yazan Juma, lost time on the 12th stage and missed out on second, finishing fourth, well clear of fifth-placed Abdullah Al-Toqi and Austrian co-driver Ilka Minor.
Nine national entrants started the one-day round. Salim Al-Toqi and Saif Al-Harthy dropped out after the eighth stage, Mohammed Al-Mazroui retired his Yamaha on stage nine, and Musab Soomar retired on SS11.
Saturday as it happened
A second time penalty had ended Al-Attiyah’s hopes of catching Al-Rawahi, and the Qatari began the final day seventh, 11min 27.4sec behind. Even so, he beat the leader by seven seconds on the opening Mulaynah test and moved past Sheikh Bader Al-Fayez into sixth.
Another fastest time in Misfah lifted Al-Attiyah past Jweihan into fifth, while the top four of Al-Rawahi, Kačirek, Al-Thefiri and Al-Zubair held station.
When Al-Zubair lost 12 minutes on the 10th stage, Murayrat, after his jack failed while changing a puncture following an accident, Al-Attiyah climbed to fourth, still 10min 48.2sec behind Al-Rawahi.
Even if the five-minute penalty were overturned, catching the leader was now virtually impossible, although a podium place was within reach. Al-Rawahi’s strong morning meant he reached service with a 7min 59.4sec lead.
The second run through Mulaynah brought Al-Attiyah another fastest time as he reeled in Al-Thefiri, who remained third and led MERC2. The Qatari reached Misfah just 20.9 seconds behind the Mitsubishi driver, while Al-Rawahi’s second fastest time stretched his lead over Kačirek to 8min 39.2sec.
Al-Attiyah passed Al-Thefiri for third with another fastest time on Misfah 2, beating a cautious Al-Rawahi by 18.9 seconds, but the Omani went into the final stage 9min 36.9sec ahead.
Al-Zubair’s problems continued, and the Omani dropped to the bottom of the order after stopping again on the penultimate stage.
Kačirek’s fastest time on the final stage denied Al-Attiyah a clean sweep of the gravel stages and allowed the Czech to keep second behind the victorious Al-Rawahi. Al-Attiyah had picked up a rear right puncture and drove 17km to the finish of the stage.
The regional series continues in Qatar on February 16th-18th.