Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah and Spanish co-driver Alba Sánchez González controlled their pace perfectly to take a dominant win at Oman Rally Sohar International on Saturday.
Having done the hard work on Friday’s gravel stages, Al-Attiyah avoided risks over the last six stages to take a seventh Oman win by 15min 13.8sec in his Autotek Volkswagen Polo GTI. It was his 79th career MERC win and the ideal start to his bid for an 18th regional title.
Standing in for Mathieu Baumel, Sánchez González became the first woman to win a MERC round since Veronika Havelková partnered Vojtĕch Štajf to a one-off win in Qatar in 2018. Sweden’s Tina Thörner was the first, alongside Al-Attiyah in Qatar in 2009.
It was important that we got off to a winning start here in Oman and I am very happy with this result. I was able to manage my pace today, avoid punctures and take no risks. Today was about preserving the car and protecting the lead.
Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah
The stages are fantastic with amazing landscapes. Alba stood in for Mathieu and did a fantastic job. I am delighted for her that she has a first win in the Middle East.
Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah
Al-Wahaibi bounces back
The standout driver on the final day was Omani veteran Hamed Al-Wahaibi, who recovered from turbo problems at the start of day one to win five stages on Saturday. He and New Zealand co-driver Tony Sircombe finished sixth in their Motortune Škoda Fabia.
It was a good rally and we had a great run but had a puncture in the last one. I really attacked this afternoon. I took it a bit easier in the morning and pressed hard this afternoon. We’ve certainly got the car set up for Qatar. I think we have found something very positive for there. All is good. Looking forward to the next one. I had a very fun day today and that’s what it’s all about.
Hamed Al-Wahaibi
Czech Petr Kačirek and Václav Kopáček were Al-Attiyah’s nearest rivals in their Duck Racing Škoda Fabia. On his MERC debut, Kačirek reached the finish in Nakhal 2min 58.3sec ahead of third-placed Nasser Khalifa Al-Atya and Italian co-driver Giovanni Bernacchini.
Oman’s Zakariya and Mohammed Al-Aamri led MERC2 in a Subaru Impreza until mechanical trouble put them out of fourth on the penultimate stage. Jordan’s Issa Abu Jamous and Emad Juma moved up to fourth to win MERC2, while Ihab Al-Shorafa and Yousef Juma were fifth and second in class.
Mechanics worked hard on Friday afternoon to repair Abdullah Al-Rawahi’s damaged Škoda Fabia, and the Omani rewarded them with consistent times on the final day. Like Al-Wahaibi, he took heavy penalties, restarted under Rally2 and finished seventh.
Yesterday was a disaster with the technical issue we had on SS3. We are running the new car with limited spare parts and we struggled a bit. The technical team did a great job. They managed to repair the car, not 100%, and that’s why we took it easy today.
Abdullah Al-Rawahi
We wanted to save the car and finish the rally to get the championship points. The stages were technical and we learned a lot. We also used the day to test Michelin and Pirelli tyres. It was more of a test and great experience for us. I am only 24-years-old and I am proud to be racing against the likes of Nasser and Hamed. I am learning all the time.
Abdullah Al-Rawahi
Saturday as it happened
Al-Attiyah clearly eased off to protect the car and his big overnight lead, while Al-Wahaibi and Al-Rawahi set out to make up for Friday’s retirements. They were first and second fastest on all three morning stages, but their penalties left them too far back to catch sixth-placed Ihab Al-Shorafa.
Al-Attiyah reached the mid-day service 11min 15.5sec ahead of Kačirek, who had extended his hold on second to 2min 33.9sec over Al-Atya. Oman’s Jarah Al-Touqi did not start the second leg.
Al-Wahaibi won two of the three afternoon stages to secure sixth, while Al-Attiyah cruised home with fastest time on the final stage to confirm his seventh win in the Sultanate and a first for his stand-in co-driver.
Haitham Al-Soomar (Mitsubishi) won the Oman Rally Championship category from Lebanon’s Alain Nawfal (T3 Yamaha). Musab Al-Soomar was third in a Kia despite an accident that cost him more than 20 minutes on the last stage, and Oman’s Haitham Al-Hadidi retired his Mitsubishi at the start of the day.
The 2022 FIA Middle East Rally Championship moves to Qatar on February 10th-12th.
Positions after SS13
- 1. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Alba Sánchez González (ESP) Volkswagen Polo GTI 2hr 25min 17.2sec
- 2. Petr Kačirek (CZE)/Václav Kopáček (CZE) Škoda Fabia 2hr 40min 31.0sec
- 3. Nasser Khalifa Al-Atya (QAT)/Giovanni Bernacchini (ITA) Ford Fiesta 2hr 43min 29.3sec
- 4. Issa Abu Jamous (JOR)/Emad Juma (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 3hr 05min 39.1sec
- 5. Ihab Al-Shorafa (JOR)/Yousef Juma (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 3hr 09min 21.8sec