Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah set fastest time on the short final stage of the Hail Cross-Country Rally on Saturday to seal a fifth FIA World Cup Drivers’ title in style.
The Qatari had mathematically secured the title after two stage wins earlier in the event, but he and French co-driver Matthieu Baumel kept pushing in their Toyota Hilux to take three stage wins and win by 21min 51sec from Russians Denis Krotov and Konstantin Zhiltsov. It was their fourth FIA World Cup title together, after three in a row from 2015 to 2017.
It was a good last stage and completely different to the first three. It was all gravel through the mountains. It was fantastic and we are obviously very happy with the result. I am so happy to win this race and to win the World Cup title. It was a great win. This was the last time for me in this car. The next step will be the T1+ in Dakar!
Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah
Argentina’s Sebastien Halpern passed Vladimir Vasilyev on the final stage to take the last podium place in the second X-raid Mini Buggy. Compatriot Lucio Alvarez missed out on the Drivers’ title to Al-Attiyah but set third-fastest time on the last stage, finished fifth and secured runner-up spot in the championship in his Overdrive Racing Toyota.
Poland’s Jakub Przygonski was second fastest on the 148km final section, but a drive shaft problem on Friday had cost the Mini Buggy driver a likely podium and he finished sixth. Spain’s Laia Sanz brought her Mini home a fine eighth as she prepares for the Dakar with X-raid.
Martin Prokop used the event to shake down his new Ford Raptor Cross-Country, alongside France’s Ronan Chabot and Argentina’s Juan Cruz Yacopini in two Overdrive Racing Toyota Hilux T1+ cars. None were eligible for FIA points, but Prokop’s stage times were good enough for seventh overall.
T4 and T3
Michal Goczal recovered from the gearbox trouble that had cost him a possible T4 win to set the fastest time on the final stage in his Can-Am, beating brother Marek by 2min 56sec. But Marek took the class win and a fine seventh overall. Australia’s Molly Taylor was second in T4, 31min 55sec back, with Dubai-based Briton Thomas Bell, Ukraine’s Ievgen Kovalevych and Michal Goczal third, fourth and fifth.
Pavel Lebedev missed two days after a first-day crash damaged his Can-Am’s suspension, but under the rules he could tackle the final day and won the T3 stage by 4min 54sec from class winner Saleh Al-Saif. The Saudi won T3 by 47min 24sec from Mashael Al-Obaidan, with Annett Fischer third in her X-Raid/South Racing Can-Am and Saudi pair Dania Akeel and Esraa Aldkheil fourth and fifth.
I am so happy to finish the Hail Rally. The whole stage today was flat and fast. I love going fast. I enjoy the dunes but today was so much fun. It was hard to pass cars in the dust but I took no risks. The whole week has been incredible and great experience for me.
Dania Akeel
Bikes, quads, national and trucks
Ahmed Al-Jaber won the final motorcycle stage by 1min 56sec from Abdullah Lanjawi, but overall victory went to Mishal Al-Ghuneim. Othman Al-Ghfeli lost around 15 minutes on the last stage and fell behind his rival, finishing just 13 seconds back. Al-Jaber was third, with Abdulhalim Al-Mogheera and Lanjawi completing the top five.
Multiple Hail winner Abdulmajeed Al-Khulaifi won the quads with another stage win on his Yamaha, 1hr 56min 32sec ahead of Haitham Al-Tuwaijri, with Hani Al-Noumesi third.
Two-time Hail Rally winner Essa Al-Dossary won the last National/Open stage in his Nissan Navara, but overall victory went to Aliyyah Koloc after Al-Mashna Al-Shammeri took time penalties and dropped to second. Saeed Al-Mouri was third in his Can-Am.
Japan’s Teruhito Sugawara (Hino) won the Truck category with fastest time on the last stage. Teo Calvet lost the lead on day three, and Saudi Arabia’s Ibrahim Al-Muhanna took second in his Mercedes Unimog.
Leading positions after SS4 (unofficial)
- 1. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu Baumel (FRA) Toyota Gazoo Hilux 10hr 50min 23sec
- 2. Denis Krotov (RUS)/Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS) MINI John Cooper Works Buggy 11hr 12min 14sec
- 3. Sebastien Halpern (ARG)/Bernardo Graue (ARG) MINI John Cooper Works Buggy 11hr 19min 07sec