The 2021 Jordan Rally started on the shores of the Dead Sea on Thursday afternoon, with 12 crews from eight nations set to tackle 10 tough gravel stages on Friday and Saturday around the Dead Sea, Mount Nebo and the Jordan River, near the lowest point on earth.
Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah hopes to extend his eight-point FIA Middle East Rally Championship lead in the absence of his closest rivals, Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari and Khalid Al-Suwaidi, who pushed him hard at the opening round in Qatar in late January.
This time the 13-time Jordan Rally winner faces former QMMF president Nasser Khalifa Al-Atya and Oman Rally Team driver Abdullah Al-Rawahi.
Al-Wahaibi crash
Hamed Al-Wahaibi had been looking forward to his return after nine years away, but the Omani crashed while testing tyres on Thursday morning and could not make the ceremonial start after damaging his Škoda Fabia.
I lost a bit of concentration while testing tyres. I just ran a bit wide out of a corner and went into a small ditch. The car went end-over-end about five times. Ilka (Minor) and I are both okay. The car proved its strength. I was so happy to be here and back in rallying.
Hamed Al-Wahaibi
We will be in Rally Lebanon, for sure. Thanks to the organisers for all their support. The welcome has been great, fans, competitors and my friend Nasser (Al-Attiyah) was so supportive. Now I wish my team-mate Abdullah Al-Rawahi all the best for the coming two days.
Hamed Al-Wahaibi
MERC2 and MERC3
Meshari Al-Thefiri has won the last three MERC2 titles in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X and starts Friday with a nine-point lead in the showroom class. His closest rivals, Rashid Al-Mohannadi and Zakariya Al-Ofi, are absent, but local drivers Shabi Shaban and Ihab Al-Shourafa and Lebanese trio Alex El-Feghali, Ahmed Khaled and Shadi El-Fakih hope to push him hard.
Lebanon’s defending champion Henry Kahy faces local driver Asem Aref in MERC3 for two-wheel-drive cars, and Saudi Arabia’s Saleh Al-Saif completes the field in a T4 Can-Am Maverick X3.
The event is supported by Zain Jordan, Guarantee Travel Group and Nestlé Waters Jordan.
Friday
Crews face two loops of three stages, starting with the 9.8km Syagha from 09.19hrs. The new 34.70km Adasiyah stage follows at 09.58hrs, and the loop ends with the 11.34km Baptism Site stage from 11.17hrs. After a mid-leg regroup and service at the Dead Sea Service Park, the three stages are repeated at 12.58hrs, 13.37hrs and 14.56hrs.