The 2023 Oman International Rally begins with a ceremonial start at Muscat Drift Arena from 15.00hrs on Thursday afternoon, followed by a 3.01km super special stage from 16.07hrs.
The Oman Automobile Association’s (OAA) flagship event once again opens the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC), with competitors from nine nations tackling 13 gravel special stages before the finish back at Muscat Drift Arena on Saturday afternoon. Of the 613.06km route, 229.98km is timed.
Al-Attiyah chases record eighth win
Defending regional champion Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah and Andorra-based co-driver Mathieu Baumel head an FIA field of 15 cars. The Qatari is chasing a record eighth Oman win to add to his victories in 2003-2006, 2015, 2020 and 2022.
Baumel has stood on the top step in Oman twice, as have Steve Lancaster and Chris Patterson, while Spain’s Alba Sánchez González partnered Al-Attiyah last year when Baumel was sidelined by illness.
The Volkswagen Polo GTi crew’s main opposition comes from the Oman Rally Team’s Abdullah Al-Rawahi and Jordanian co-driver Ata Al-Hmoud, who won in 2021 to make Al-Rawahi only the second Omani ever to win a MERC round as a driver.
Czech pairing Petr Kačirek and Petra Řiháková run a Duck Racing Škoda Fabia, and Qatar’s Nasser Khalifa Al-Atya and Italian Giovanni Bernacchini drive a Ford Fiesta R5.
MERC2
While the four Rally2 crews should contest overall victory, MERC2 has real depth. Multiple champion Meshari Al-Thefiri wants to win back the title that Jordan’s Issa Abu Jamous and Ihab Al-Shorafa fought over in 2022.
Ninth and 10th generation Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions dominate a category that also includes three more Jordanians: Shadi Shaban, Sheikh Bader Al-Fayez and Shaker Jweihan.
Local hopes rest with Abdullah Al-Zubair and Zakariya Al-Aamri in a pair of Subaru Imprezas, while Kuwait’s Mohammed Al-Zafiri and Yousef Al-Dhefiri and Lebanon’s Ahmad Khaled add further depth in their Mitsubishis.
National rally
A national rally runs behind the FIA event, with a provisional nine starters subject to scrutineering. Haitham Al-Soomar and Wael Al-Shabani topped the 2022 standings in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII and face Ghaith Al-Qasmi and Salim Al-Touqi, plus a Subaru for Faisal Al-Rashdi.
Three Yamaha YXZs are entered for Oman’s Mohammed Al-Mazroui and Mutasim Al-Balushi and Lebanon’s Alain Nawfal, while Abdullah Al-Toqi is partnered by Austrian WRC co-driver Ilka Minor in a Toyota Yaris.