July 12, 2016 – Henry Massaad and Ramy Menhem enjoyed a phenomenal performance onboard the Renault Clio R3T during the third round of the 2016 Lebanese Rally Championship, the 25th Cedars Rally, but the pair was forced to retire at the event’s penultimate stage.
The 25th Cedars Rally included 12 special stages: a 7.88-kilometer stage in Kfarhelda, a 9.21-kilometer stage in Bhabbouch, a 3.48-kilometer stage in Sereel and a 12.73-kilometer stage in Mazraat Al Touffah – which were all visited three times (three loops).
Massaad and Menhem kept it safe in the first loop, which they ended in 2nd place in the RC3 class, and the real push began in the second loop of the rally, as the pair managed to snatch 1st in the category with just 4 out of 12 stages to go.
However, a suspension failure on 11th and penultimate stage ultimately robbed them from victory in one of the most difficult events on the calendar as only 11 cars out of 22 managed to reach the finish line in the end.
In spite of the retirement, Massaad and Menhem were comforted by their race-winning pace that they hope to carry over into the most important rally of the year, Rally of Lebanon, that is taking place on September 2, 3 & 4.
The Renault Clio R3T team will continue to be sponsored by Bassoul Heneine SAL, the official Renault distributor in Lebanon, for the remainder of the season.