HAIL, SAUDI ARABIA – The Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) has announced a quality international entry of 42 cars, 25 motorcycles and six quads for the opening round of the 2024 FIA World and Middle East Baja Cups, the FIM Bajas World Cup and the first round of the Saudi Toyota Rally Championship.
The Hail Toyota International Rally 2024 (Saudi Baja) runs on February 8–10 under the chairmanship of SAMF President HRH Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal. Twelve cars are entered in the new Ultimate group (formerly T1 and T1P), 12 in Challenger, three in Stock and 15 in SSV.
Cars
Defending Saudi Toyota Rally Champion Yazeed Al-Rajhi and German co-driver Timo Gottschalk, runners-up last year in both the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship and the FIA World Baja Cup, head the entry. More Toyotas are entered for Argentina’s Juan Cruz Yacopini, Lithuania’s Rokas Baciuška and Saudi driver Dania Akeel, the latter two in the Toyota for the first time. Portugal’s João Ferreira returns to X-Raid in the only Mini John Cooper Works Rally Plus, and local driver Mohammed Al-Tuwaijri is also registered for the World Cup.
Dubai’s Aliyyah Koloc faces Qatar’s Abdulla Al-Rabban, Kuwait’s Salem Al-Dhafeeri and Nasser Al-Ajmi and Saudis Motab Saud Al-Qnon and Abdulaziz Al-Yaeesh for FIA Middle East Cup honours.
In Challenger, South Racing Can-Am’s Diego Martinez and João Dias chase World Cup honours with X-Raid Yamaha’s Annett Quandt and Pal Lonyai, alongside Eduardo Pons, Khalid Al-Jafla, Bradley Salazar and Gunter Hinkelmann. Defending FIA Middle East Cup T3 champion Hamad Al-Harbi faces Saleh Al-Saif, Maha Al-Hameli and Abdullah Al-Haydan.
Quaddy Racing has three Yamaha YXZ 1000Rs in SSV for Amerigo Ventura, Ahmed Al-Kuwari and Abdullah Al-Khelaifi. Kuwait’s Meshari Al-Thefiri drops down from Challenger, and the field includes Luis Henderson, Alexander Boquoi, Ibrahim Al-Muhanna, Bader Al-Barrak, Tullio Versace, Abdullah Al-Shegawi, Saeed Al-Mouri, Moaaz Hariri, Atif Al-Zarouni and France’s Mathilda Lauwens. Ahmed Al-Shegawi, Ibrahim Bensahman and Majed Al-Thunayyan contest Stock (formerly T2).
Bikes and quads
MX Ride Dubai’s Mohammed Al-Balooshi, winner in 2020, 2022 and 2023, tops the 25-rider bike field on his KTM against Pedro Bianchi Prata, Andrew Houlihan, Barry Howe, Saudi riders Abdulhalim Al-Mogheera, Bader Al-Hamdan and Ahmed Al-Jaber, his brother Sultan, Kuwait’s Abdullah Al-Shatti and Jordan’s Abdullah Abu Aisheh.
Two-time winner Haitham Al-Tuwaijri heads the six-strong quad field with fellow Saudis Hani Al-Noumesi, Abdulaziz Al-Atawi, Abdulrahman Abdullatif, Abdulaziz Al-Shammeri and Abdulaziz Al-Shayban.