NICOSIA, CYPRUS – Backed by Jameel Motorsport, Saudi driver Hamza Bakhashab has finished runner-up in the 2026 FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) after an impressive drive on the demanding Petrolina Cyprus Rally at the weekend, with the continued guidance and support of his father, Abdullah Bakhashab.
Despite going off the road on the sixth special stage, Hamza fought back to finish seventh overall and second among the registered MERC contenders, behind newly crowned champion Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah.
It is another proud moment for the Bakhashab family, as Hamza follows in the footsteps of his father, who won the Middle East Rally Championship title in 1995.
Thanks to the continued support of Jameel Motorsport and the guidance of my father, I have been able to gain valuable experience and make great progress throughout this season.
Hamza Bakhashab
Cyprus was an amazing experience. I really enjoyed driving these stages. They were unlike anything I had experienced before, and that made the rally even more exciting for me.
Hamza Bakhashab
Of course, going off the road on SS6 and not being able to complete the stage was disappointing, but that’s part of rallying. We managed to get back out and finish the rally, and I’m taking away a lot of valuable experience from this weekend.
Hamza Bakhashab
With the Saudi Rally cancelled, we end the season as runners-up in the Middle East Rally Championship. It’s a result I’m really proud of, especially considering that our main goal coming into this season was to learn and develop as much as possible. We’ve made great progress this year and I’m excited for what’s ahead.
Hamza Bakhashab
Day one: a careful start, then a costly off
Hamza and Lebanese co-driver Joseph Matar started cautiously on the slippery gravel roads of the Troodos Mountains. They were eighth after the opening stage at Ayios Epifanios and climbed to seventh on the next test at Kapouras.
Another strong run through the Kourdali stage brought them to the midday regroup and service in Nicosia in seventh overall and third among the MERC title contenders.
His confidence grew through the afternoon, and the Saudi safely completed the repeat runs of Ayios Epifanios and Kapouras, rising from seventh to sixth overall. But a mistake on the day’s final stage sent him off the road and brought time penalties, dropping him to eighth before day two.
Day two: fighting back
Stage seven was cancelled by officials, but Bakhashab was back on the pace on stages eight and nine, setting the fifth and fourth fastest times. He was still eighth at the midday return to Nicosia.
A third-fastest time on SS10 lifted him to seventh overall, and he rose to second among the MERC entrants after Abdullah Al-Rawahi retired. Another third-fastest time on the penultimate stage secured seventh place ahead of the points-paying Power Stage at Stavrovouni.
Bakhashab collected extra MERC points on the Power Stage, confirming seventh overall, second among the MERC competitors and second place in the 2026 FIA Middle East Rally Championship Drivers’ standings.
The Petrolina Cyprus Rally
Organised by the Cyprus Automobile Association, the rally ran over 12 gravel special stages covering 183.92 competitive kilometres in a total distance of 657.74km.
Hamza Bakhashab’s 2026 MERC season
- Oman: 8th, after suspension damage
- Qatar: 2nd overall
- Jordan: 3rd overall
- Cyprus: 7th overall, 2nd among MERC contenders
- Final championship position: Runner-up