AQABA, JORDAN – Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah and Britain’s Alex McInnes delivered commanding performances on Thursday afternoon, clocking the fastest times in the car and motorcycle categories during the 12.78km Aseza Prologue at the 2026 Jordan Baja.
Held near the village of Rahmeh, north of Aqaba, the short but demanding desert stage determined the starting order for Friday’s longer test through the spectacular landscapes of Wadi Rum.
Al-Attiyah Storms to Dominant Car Victory
Al-Attiyah, competing in an MD Optimus Rallye, returned to partnership with navigator Max Delfino and wasted no time asserting his authority. The Qatari star posted a blistering time of 8 minutes 53.6 seconds, finishing a commanding 36 seconds ahead of his nearest rival.
Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Saood Variawa, navigating the terrain for the first time in Jordan alongside French co-driver François Cazalet, secured second place. Despite limited experience in the region, the South African handled the tricky combination of mountainous tracks and riverbeds with confidence.
Poland’s Tomasz Bialkowski impressed in his Polaris RZR Pro R Sport, placing third overall and leading the SSV category.
Challenger Category Battle Intensifies
Saudi Arabia’s Yasir Seaidan emerged as the quickest driver in the Challenger class. Behind the wheel of his Taurus Evo Max, Seaidan claimed fourth overall and finished 9.6 seconds ahead of Qatar’s Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari.
Seaidan described the Prologue as rocky and technically demanding, particularly with navigation challenges and heavy dust caused by traffic ahead. Al-Kuwari echoed those sentiments, noting that several competitors lost their way early in the stage.
Omani veteran Hamed Al-Wahaibi secured third place in Challenger, while Abdullah Al-Fahad was forced to retire during the stage.
Akeel and Regional Contenders Face Early Challenge
Defending regional Baja champion Dania Akeel was first into the stage in her Toyota Hilux, setting an early benchmark of 9 minutes 57.1 seconds. However, as times improved, the Saudi driver slipped to seventh overall.
Elsewhere, Nouef Al-Sowaidi, Mansour Al-Helai, and Miroslav Zapletal completed the top ten in a highly competitive field featuring 32 FIA crews.
Jordan’s Farah Zakaria made history as the first Jordanian woman to compete in the FIA category at her home event. Alongside German navigator Jennifer Lerch, she completed the Prologue in 23rd position.
Stock Category and SSV Highlights
In the Stock class for series-production cross-country vehicles, Qatar’s Abdullah Al-Rabban led the way in his Nissan Patrol, finishing ahead of Abdullah Al-Shegawi and other regional rivals.
The SSV category saw Tomasz Bialkowski dominate, finishing comfortably ahead of Team Liwa’s Mansour Al-Helai. Meanwhile, FIA World Baja Cup SSV leader Fernando Alvarez endured a difficult run, ending near the rear of the field.
McInnes Leads Tactical Battle on Two Wheels
In the motorcycle category, FIM Bajas World Cup leader Alex McInnes set the fastest time of 11 minutes 19.7 seconds aboard his KTM 450 SXF.
Poland’s Marcin Talaga finished second, while UAE rider Sultan Al-Balooshi claimed third. Several top contenders opted for tactical approaches, including defending champion Mohammed Al-Balooshi, who placed ninth.
Jordanian riders Zaid Jaber and Tla’at Al-Shishane delighted local fans with solid performances inside the top ten.
Quad Category Results
Saudi Arabia’s Abdulaziz Al-Atawi topped the quad standings on his Yamaha Raptor 700 R, finishing ahead of compatriots Ahmad Al-Jaber and Hani Al-Noumesi.
Looking Ahead to Wadi Rum
A total of 32 FIA crews, 24 FIM riders, 14 Jordan National Baja entrants, and 53 teams in the Wadi Al-Qamar Navigational Rally will officially cross the start podium at the Ayla resort in Aqaba.
On Friday, competitors face a demanding 225.71km special stage beginning and ending in Humaymeh, an ancient Nabataean trading post dating back to the first century BC. The stage promises dramatic desert scenery and technical challenges, with the first motorcycle starting at 7:30am and FIA cars following an hour later.
With the Prologue complete, the stage is set for a thrilling battle in the sands of Wadi Rum.
2026 Jordan Baja – Prologue result (unofficial):
Cars
- Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Max Delfino (FRA) MD Optimus Rallye8min 53.6sec+
- Saood Variawa (RSA)/François Cazalet (FRA) Toyota Hilux IMT Evo9min 29.6sec*
- Tomasz Bialkowski (POL)/Dariusz Baśkiewicz (POL) Polaris RZR Pro R Sport9min 39.7sec*
- Yasir Seaidan (KSA)/Xavier Flick (FRA) Taurus Evo Max9min 41.6sec+
- Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari (QAT)/Stéphane Duplé (FRA) Taurus T3 Max9min 51.2sec*
- Hamed Al-Wahaibi (OMA)/Maciej Giemza (POL) Can-Am Maverick R9min 54.0sec*
- Dania Akeel (KSA)/Sébastian Delaunay (FRA) Toyota Hilux Evo9min 57.1sec*
- Nouef Al-Sowaidi (QAT)/Aisvydas Paliukenas (LTU) Taurus T3 Max9min 58.8sec+
- Mansour Al-Helai (UAE)/Khalid Al-Kendi (UAE) Can-Am Maverick R10min 03.4sec*
- Miroslav Zapletal (CZE)/Michal Goleniewski (POL) Ford F-15010min 06.0sec+
- Erik van Loon (NED)/Wouter Rosegaar (NED) Can-Am Maverick R10min 20.2sec*
- Lionel Baud (FRA)/Lucie Baud (FRA) X-Raid Mini JCW Rally Plus 3.0d10min 32.4sec*
- Mohammed Al-Marri (QAT)/Szymon Gospodarczyk (POL) Can-Am Maverick R10min 33.0sec+
- David Mabbs (UAE)/David McBride (UAE) Can-Am Maverick X310min 42.8sec+
- Hamad Al-Harbi (KSA)/Faisal Al-Suwayh (KSA) Can-Am Maverick R10min 48.6sec+
- Ahmed Al-Kuwari (QAT)/Augusto Sanz (ARG) Yamaha YXZ 100R Sport Shift10min 58.8sec+
- Ahmed Al-Shamy (KSA)/Ali Hassan Obaid (UAE) Century CR611min 09.8sec+
- Mohammed Al-Atteya (QAT)/Aleksei Kuzmich (UAE) Can-Am Maverick R11min 23.2sec+
- Maha Al-Hamali (KSA)/Nuno Morais (POR) Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR11min 43.9sec+
- Dhari Al-Dhafeeri (KUW)/Fahad Al-Amr (KSA) Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR11min 55.4sec+
- Camelia Liparoti (SMR)/Fahad Al-Muaikil (KSA) Yamaha YXZ 100R Sport Shift12min 45.1sec+
- Nora Al-Jassasi (UAE)/Balakrishna Udaya Kumar (UAE) Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR 12min 56.8sec+
- Farah Zakaria (JOR)/Jennifer Lerch (GER) Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR13min 22.6sec
- Moaz Hariri (KSA)/Kirill Shubin (KGZ) Can-Am Maverick R13min 47.0sec*
- Abdullah Al-Rabban (QAT)/Ali Al-Ajmi (UAE) Nissan Patrol13min 47.0sec*
- Abdullah Al-Shegawi (KSA)/Ali Mirza (UAE) Toyota Prado15min 35.2sec*
- Fernando Alvarez (ARG)/Xavier Panseri (FRA) Can-Am Maverick R16min 08.2sec*
- Al-Mashna Al-Shammeri (KSA)/Abdullah Al-Shammeri (KSA) Nissan Patrol17min 32.8sec+
- Majed Al-Thunayyan (KSA)/Omar Al-Lahim (KSA) Nissan Patrol18min 14.1sec*
- Ahmad Al-Muhannadi (QAT)/Egor Okhotnikov (KGZ) Nissan Patrol21min 14.7sec*
- Hedda Hosås (NOR)/Pol Tibau (ESP) Can-Am Maverick R22min 02.1sec*
- Abdullah Al-Fahad (KSA)/Leander Pienaar (RSA) Taurus T3 MaxDNF+
*denotes registered for FIA World Cup
- denotes registered for FIA Middle East Cup
Bikes
- Alex McInnes (GBR) KTM 450 SXF11min 19.7sec
- Marcin Talaga (POL) GasGas RX 45011min 49.1sec
- Sultan Al-Balooshi (UAE) Kove 450 EX Rally11min 52.9sec
- Abdullah Al-Shatti (KUW) Kawasaki KX 45011min 54.6sec
- Rafic Eid (LEB) KTM 450 Rally Replica12min 11.8sec
- Zaid Jaber (JOR) GasGas RX 450 Rally Replica13min 11.3sec
- Tla’at Al-Shishane (JOR) Yamaha WR 450F13min 20.0sec
- Philip Horlemann (GER) KTM 450 Rally Replica13min 30.8sec
- Mohammed Al-Balooshi (UAE) KTM 450 13min 37.2sec
- Thomas Childs (GBR) KTM 450 Rally14min 10.1sec
- Abdulhalim Al-Mogheera (KSA) KTM 45014min 10.2sec
- Brett Hunt GBR) Husky FE 45014min 17.2sec
- Mohammed Al-Kubaisi (QAT) KTM 350 EXC-F14min 22.4sec
- Tony Schattat (GER) KTM 450 Rally Replica14min 45.9sec
- Patrick Emmert (USA) KTM 500 EXC-F14min 49.9sec
- Joanna Modrzewska (POL) Triumph TF 450 E14min 59.3sec
- Tomasz Niedzwiedzki (POL) GasGas RX 450 Rally Replica15min 04.1sec
- Darko Marasovic (CRO) KTM 450 Rally Replica15min 09.9sec
- Sultan Al-Shanqiti (UAE) KTM 450 Rally Replica15min 28.4sec
- Abdullah Abu Aisheh (JOR) Yamaha WR 450F16min 45.1sec
- Eyad Salmirza (JOR) Yamaha YZ 450F18min 09.7sec
Quads - Abdulaziz Al-Atawi (KSA) Yamaha Raptor 700 R13min 44.9sec
- Ahmad Al-Jaber (KSA) Yamaha Raptor 700 R15min 32.2sec
- Hani Al-Noumesi (KSA) Yamaha YFM 700R15min 53.3sec
