ALGHERO, SARDINIA – Oman Rally Team’s Abdullah Al-Rawahi is in Sardinia preparing to resume his programme in the FIA Junior World Rally Championship (JWRC).
This weekend’s (May 31–June 2) Rally Italia Sardegna is round six of the FIA World Rally Championship and round three of the JWRC, after Sweden and Croatia. Al-Rawahi had his first ever taste of snow-bank forest stages at the Scandinavian opener but missed the tarmac second round with a back injury.
With regular Jordanian co-driver Ata Al-Hmoud unavailable, Al-Rawahi faces 17 JWRC rivals alongside British co-driver Ross Whittock for the first time. Both were at last week’s Jordan Rally and both retired early: Whittock crashed on the opening stage with Qatar’s Khalid Al-Suwaidi, while Al-Rawahi and Al-Hmoud – leaders after stage two – were sidelined by engine damage after an accident on the third gravel stage. They are the defending FIA Middle East rally champions.
I am very excited for this rally. This is a gravel rally compared to the one in Sweden and the second one that we missed. I think we will be more comfortable on gravel terrain. There is still a lot to learn in the World Rally Championship.
Abdullah Al-Rawahi
Obviously, the competition is very high and we are still looking to gain experience and learn more and even learn from my co-driver as well. Maybe we will have a different perspective from (stage) notes and stuff. Hopefully, it will be a good rally and a safe one too.
Abdullah Al-Rawahi
JWRC crews use identical M-Sport Poland Ford Fiesta Rally3 cars on Pirelli tyres. The champion wins an arrive-and-drive package for four European rounds of the 2025 WRC in a Ford Fiesta Rally2.
Rivals include series leader Romet Jürgenson of Estonia, Australia’s Taylor Gill, Romania’s Norbert Maior and drivers from Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile, Peru, South Africa, Kazakhstan, Turkey and Belgium.
The route
Friday afternoon brings two passes through the Osilo, Tergu, Sedini and Castelsardo gravel stages north of Alghero. Saturday features two passes each through Tempio Pausania, Tula-Erula, Monte Lerno–Monti Di Ala and Coiluna–Loelle, and Sunday morning closes with two runs through Cala Flumini and Sassari–Argentiera – 266.12 competitive kilometres in a 1,027.90km route.