AMMAN, JORDAN – Jordan Motorsport is completing the final preparations for the 2026 Jordan Rally, the legendary event that will host the third round of this season’s FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) on May 14th-16th.
The three-day rally will tackle a dozen timed gravel special stages across the Dead Sea and Jordan Valley regions of the Hashemite Kingdom, with the event once more based at the Mövenpick Resort and Spa Dead Sea.
New shakedown and HoverUp Park start
Competitive action opens on Thursday, May 14th, with a brand-new 4.83km Shakedown stage. It gives crews the chance to fine-tune their car set-ups before the main battle unfolds over the weekend, and each driver will be allowed a maximum of two runs.
On Thursday afternoon, the pre-event press conference (17.30hrs) and the ceremonial start (18.00hrs) will both be held at the HoverUp Park, which overlooks the Dead Sea.
Friday: Shuna, Baptism and Ma’in
Clerk of the Course George Khoury and his team have drawn up a revised timetable for Friday, May 15th. Crews will tackle two passes through each of the following stages, with a return to the Dead Sea in the middle of the day for service and regroup:
- Shuna: 15.25km
- Baptism: 11.24km
- Ma’in: 16.87km
Saturday: Panorama, Suwayma and the Rawda Power Stage
Saturday, May 16th, also follows a modified schedule, with two runs through three stages in the Jordan Valley and Dead Sea areas:
- Panorama: 16.95km
- Suwayma: 11.12km
- Rawda: 26.97km
At 26.97km, Rawda is the longest test of the rally. It promises a classic sting in the tail and doubles as the Power Stage finale, where the fastest crews will collect extra MERC points. The ceremonial finish then takes place at the HoverUp Park, at the lowest point on earth, from 18.00hrs.
An open championship after two rounds
With rounds in Oman and Qatar already completed, the regional title race is wide open. Qatari veteran Nasser Khalifa Al-Atya leads the standings on 47 points thanks to two third-place finishes. The former championship runner-up also heads the FIA Master Driver Championship.
Saudi Arabia’s Hamza Bakhashab sits second, just five points behind the Ford driver, after scoring for eighth place in Oman and second in Qatar. Home favourite Shaker Jweihan has dominated the first two rounds of the FIA MERC2 category and is third in the overall Drivers’ Championship.
Reigning champion Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah won the season opener in Oman, but a retirement on his home event in Qatar leaves the record-breaking 17-time Jordan Rally winner in fourth place. He is level on points with Qatar Rally winner and former regional champion Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, who did not compete in the opening round in Sohar.
In the FIA MERC4 category, Lebanon’s Shadi El-Fakih and co-driver Joseph Kmeid have taken maximum points with victories in both rounds so far.
Entries open
Entries for the Jordan Rally are now open, with the closing date set for Tuesday, April 28th.
Jordan Rally 2026: key facts
- Dates: May 14th-16th, 2026
- Championship: FIA Middle East Rally Championship, round 3
- Base: Mövenpick Resort and Spa Dead Sea
- Stages: 12 gravel specials plus a 4.83km Shakedown
- Longest stage: Rawda, 26.97km (Power Stage)
- Start and finish: HoverUp Park, Dead Sea