Omani rally star Hamed Al-Wahaibi is gearing up to compete in the Baja Qatar International and Baja Dubai International, the final two rounds of the 2025 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas (Baja Cross Country). He will race with RX Sport Team, managed by Emirati champion Rashid Al-Ketbi, in the Side-by-Side (SSV) category, driving a BRP Can-Am Maverick R.
First Season in Cross-Country Bajas
This year marks Al-Wahaibi’s debut season in cross-country Baja rallies. Despite his vast rallying experience and impressive achievements in the World Rally Championship (WRC), Al-Wahaibi emphasized that his main goal for 2025 was to gain experience and expand his knowledge in this new discipline, given the fundamental differences between traditional rallying and Baja cross-country events.
A Learning Season Full of Challenges
Throughout the season, Al-Wahaibi faced several challenges, most of which were due to his limited experience in this type of rallying. However, he described 2025 as a “learning year”, noting that these experiences would be crucial in building his confidence and improving his performance in future seasons.
He added that he is now adapting to the desert terrain and sand dunes, which require a completely different driving style compared to the rally stages he’s mastered throughout his career.
A Promising Start in Hail
Al-Wahaibi began his Baja journey with the Baja Hail Rally, which served as a valuable test event. Competing in the Masters category, he rediscovered his passion and determination for success, which motivated him to participate in more rounds across the season — including Jordan, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Hungary.
During Baja Italy, he came close to winning his category, proving that he has the speed and competitiveness to challenge the top contenders.
Fighting for a Top Championship Position
Although this is his first full season in the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, Al-Wahaibi is currently battling for second place overall in the championship standings. He has a strong chance to secure that position with solid performances in the upcoming Qatar and Dubai rounds.
While his mathematical chance of winning the title still exists, it remains slim since his main rival will also compete in both final rounds. Al-Wahaibi also missed scoring points in Baja Hail and did not participate in Baja Portugal, slightly affecting his overall tally.
Eyes on the Future
Despite the setbacks, Hamed Al-Wahaibi remains optimistic about his future in cross-country rallying. He believes that with more experience and adaptation, the coming seasons will be stronger and more competitive, and he looks forward to ending the 2025 season on a high note in Qatar and Dubai.
