SOHAR (OMAN): Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah and Candido Carrera surged into the lead of the 29th Oman International Rally after the opening 2.52km Sohar super special stage, which was held in dry and breezy conditions close to the Sohar Entertainment Centre on Thursday afternoon.
The Škoda Fabia RS crew stopped the clocks in 2min 30.7sec to take a lead of 8.1 seconds into the night halt. Local hero Abdullah Al-Rawahi and his Jordanian co-driver Ata Al-Hmoud were second quickest in a Škoda Fabia RS. Hamza Bakhashab and Lorcan Moore rounded off the top three in a Toyota GR Yaris.
Several competitors attended the afternoon’s pre-event press conference before crossing the start podium to kick start another season’s action in the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC).
Al-Rawahi has only driven around 100km since his nasty accident in Lebanon last summer but the former regional champion is looking forward to his return. “Coming back from injury after the crash in Lebanon. It was a very bad one but I think I’m quite recovered. I didn’t want to miss this rally. It’s very important to me. It’s my home event.
“I’m not sure we are 100% prepared. The car only arrived a week ago. We weren’t sure if we were going to participate or not. Now it’s here and I am very excited to be back. Let’s see how it goes. Last year we had good pace. We will try to do the same and push to at least win a few stages.”
Jordan’s Shaker Jweihan and Mustafa Juma headed the FIA MERC2 runners in fourth overall in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX.
Defending FIA MERC Master Driver champion Nasser Khalifa Al-Atya finished the opening Sohar stage in fifth position. The Qatari said: “The stages are going to be very smooth. We were stretching on the shakedown this morning, just to build the pace. The car was good. We checked the brakes and the suspension and now we are looking forward to the real stages on Friday.”
Bakhashab survived a late scare after a transportation delay for his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 from Saudi Arabia. He was granted a late scrutineering slot on Thursday morning and was cautious on the opening stage as a result of the delayed arrival of further spare parts.
Rashid Al-Muhannadi got the better of his QMMF team-mate Mohammed Al-Marri to lead the Rally4 category in 10th place.
Lebanon’s Shadi El Fakih made a disappointing start in his little Renault Clio and lost around seven minutes with suspected fuel feed issues in the stage.
Zakariya Al-Ofi and Ammar Al-Balushi were the early leaders of the 13-strong Oman National Rally in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX.
The event is running with invaluable support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Al-Batinah North Governorate and Toyota Oman.
Tomorrow (Friday), competitors face two passes through three stages. Ar-Rusays (15.69km) opens proceedings at 09.13hrs and precedes runs through Ar-Rassah (19.22km) and Al-Uwaynah (13.99km) from 09.56hrs and 10.39hrs.
The three speed tests will be repeated at 13.18hrs, 14.01hrs and 14.44hrs after a return to Sohar for a late morning regroup and service.
2026 Oman International Rally – positions after SS1 (unofficial):
1. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Candido Carrera (ESP) Škoda Fabia RS Rally 2
2min 30.7sec
2. Abdullah Al-Rawahi (OMA)/Ata Al-Hmoud (JOR) Škoda Fabia RS Rally 2
2min38.8sec
3. Hamza Bakhashab (KSA)/Lorcan Moore (IRL) Toyota GR Yaris Rally 2
2min 47.3sec
4. Shaker Jweihan (JOR)/Mustafa Juma (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
2min 51.0sec
5. Nasser Khalifa Al-Atya (QAT)/Ziad Chehab (LBN) Ford Fiesta Mk II Rally 2
2min 53.5sec
6. Ihab Al-Shurafa (JOR)/Ahmad Jankout (JOR) Škoda Fabia RS Rally 2
2min 57.1sec
7. Mohammed Al-Shorafa (JOR)/Yazan Juma (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
2min59.1sec
8. Zakariya Al-Aamri (OMA)/Mohammed Al-Mazroui (OMA) Subaru Impreza WRX Sti
3min 01.4sec
9. Jassim Al-Muqahwi (KUW)/Sulaiman Al-Helal (KUW) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
3min 04.5sec
10. Rashid Al-Muhannadi (QAT)/Gary McElhinney (IRL) Peugeot 208 Rally 4
3min 07.4sec
11. Mohammed Al-Marri (QAT)/Pierre Delorme (FRA) Peugeot 208 Rally 4
3min 09.1sec
12. Sami Fleifel (JOR)/Ibrahim Ali (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo
3min 09.5sec
13. Bader Al-Fayez (JOR)/Joseph Matar (LBN) Škoda Fabia RS Rally 2
3min 16.4sec
14. Shadi El Fakih (LBN)/Joseph Kmeid (LBN) Renault Clio Rally 5
10min 05.3sec
2026 Oman National Rally – positions after SS1 (unofficial):
1. Zakariya Al-Ofi (OMA)/Ammar Al-Balushi (OMA) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
2min 54.6sec
2. Fahad Al-Balushi (OMA)/Jaber Al-Siyabi (OMA) Can-Am Maverick
3min 02.1sec
3. Ghaith Al-Qassmi (OMA)/Bassam Al-Qassmi (OMA) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII
3min 02.5sec
4. Saif Al-Harthy (OMA)/Saif Al-Hinai (OMA) Can-Am Maverick
3min 02.8sec
5. Hafidh Al-Naamani (OMA)/Mohamed Al-Sawafi (OMA) Can-Am Maverick
3min 04.6sec
6. Salim Al-Tauqi (OMA)/Issa Al-Wardi (OMA) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII
3min 06.7sec
7. Emad Al-Balushi (OMA)/Harib Al-Maymani (OMA) Can-Am Maverick 3min 14.3sec
8. Hamood Al-Tauqi (OMA)/Hazza Al-Touqi (OMA) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII
3min 14.4sec
9. Mohammed Al-Harthy (OMA)/Ahmed Al-Mamari (OMA) Can-Am Maverick 3min 23.0sec
10. Mus’ab Al-Zadjali (OMA)/Sultan Al-Battashi (OMA) Kia Rio
3min 25.5sec
11. Wassif Al-Kharusi (OMA)/Warith Al-Kharusi (OMA) Toyota Yaris
3min 28.7sec
12. Bashar Al-Qassmi (OMA)/Nasr Al-Qassmi (OMA) Toyota Yaris
3min 30.9sec
13. Haitham Soomar (OMA)/Taha Al-Zadjali (OMA) Toyota Yaris
3min 38.4sec
Follow the rally live:
Results: https://merc.cronobandeira.com
Tracking: https://geotraq.live/Oman-International-Rally-2026/
