A large number of Saudi and GCC drivers and riders contesting the opening round of the 2021 Saudi Toyota Desert Rally Championship have boosted the field for this weekend’s Sharqiyah International Baja in the Eastern Province.
Besides hosting a round of the 2021 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) is running a National Rally behind the FIA event and a class for motorcycles and quads.
Forty-three cars and one truck are entered in the National Rally and, subject to checks, will be joined by 32 motorcycles and 14 quads. Desert rallying is one of the Middle East’s fastest-growing sports, and strong national entries bode well for its future in the region.
National Rally
Al-Mashna Al-Shammeri heads the National field in his Nissan Patrol against a mostly Saudi entry including former Hail Rally winner Faris Al-Mashna, Muneef and Salman Al-Shammeri, Abdullah Al-Qanoon and Ahmed Al-Malki.
Most drive Toyota and Nissan 4x4s in T1, but T2, T3 and T4 are also well supported. Khaled Al-Shammeri, Raed Al-Shammeri and Majed Al-Thunayyan are among 10 drivers in T2 for series-production cross-country vehicles.
Abdullah Al-Shegawi, Mishal Al-Obaidan and Saad Al-Abaad contest T3, while Shaker and Khalil Al-Tuwaijri lead the T3 category in Can-Am Mavericks. Series regular Ibrahim Al-Mohanna drives his Mercedes truck in T5 with Osama Al-Sanad and Raed Abu Theeb.
Bikes and quads
Mishal Al-Ghuneim, winner of the first Sharqiyah Baja and the Al Ula-Neom event in 2019, heads the bikes on his KTM. Local rivals include Anas Al-Ruhayani and Mohamed Al-Oraini, while the UAE’s Othman Al-Gefeli, Khalid Al-Falasi and Abdullah bin Dakhan are also chasing the win.
The entry also includes Qatari trio Sheikh Mohammed Al-Thani, Mohammed Al-Kaabi and Jamal Al-Qetiti, New Zealand’s Philip Wilson, Italy’s Mauro Torrini and Bahrain’s Abdulaziz Al-Khalifa.
Abdulmajeed Al-Khulaifi has been the most successful quad rider in recent Saudi events and hopes to repeat his 2019 Sharqiyah win on his Yamaha Raptor. The six-time Hail International Rally quad winner faces last year’s Hail winner Riyadh Al-Shammeri and Sultan Al-Masoud, while Qatar’s Abdulaziz Al-Abdullah has entered a Husqvarna in the quad section.
The event is supervised by H.R.H. Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, SAMF President and Chairman of the Organising Committee, with official partner Abdul Latif Jameel Toyota, diamond sponsors MBC Group and Al-Arabiya outdoor advertising, and logistical support from Modon.
Schedule
On Wednesday, competitors complete administration and scrutineering before the pre-event press conference and ceremonial start at Modon Lake Park in Dammam Industrial City from 16.00hrs. Timed action starts with a 10km super special from 15.03hrs on Thursday.