The Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) has confirmed a strong lineup for the 2025 Qatar International Rally, featuring 29 entries from 17 countries. The event, taking place from February 6 to 8, will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Qatar International Rally, which debuted in 1975 and was won by Peter Austin and Hameed Abdel Rahman in a Mazda 929 Coupe.
This rally marks the 45th edition of the competition and is the second round of the 2025 FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC). After the season opener in Oman, the rally attracts three regional champions and features an impressive array of vehicles, including seven Rally 2 cars, a Rally 3, four Rally 4s, one Rally 5, 12 cars in the NR4 group, and four SSVs in the T4 category. A total of 19 teams are registered for MERC points.
Among the top competitors are Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah and Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, leading the rally alongside other local talent like Nasser Khalifa Al-Attiyah. Other notable entrants include Oman’s Abdullah Al-Rawahi and Saudi Arabia’s Rakan Al-Rashed, all driving Rally 2 machinery. Mads Østberg, returning to the event with Romanian co-driver Sergiu Itu, will also compete in a Škoda Fabia.
Rashid Al-Muhannadi, who finished fourth in Oman, will lead the Rally 4 field, driving a Peugeot 208, while Shaker Jweihan, last year’s MERC2 champion, enters with a Ford Fiesta in the Rally 3 category. Meanwhile, Shadi El-Fakih will continue his bid for the MERC4 title in a Renault Clio, having secured ninth place in the previous round.
Abdullah Al-Zubair, winner of the MERC2 class in Oman, will be among those vying for showroom honors, joined by a competitive field of Subaru and Mitsubishi drivers. The lineup also includes several international drivers such as Kuwait’s Jassim Al-Muqahwi, Lebanon’s Jad Al-Aawar, and India’s Mohamed Mansoor Parol.
In the SSV class, Saudi Arabia’s Ibrahim Al-Muhanna will chase victory in his Can-Am Maverick X3, alongside Yosra Jazzar and the Italian duo Mirko Carrara and Marco Marotta. Al-Muhanna will be co-driven by Hani Al-Noumesi, a top Saudi quad rider.
Under the leadership of QMMF President Abdulrahman Al-Mannai, this year’s rally will cover a route of 626.14 kilometers, with 212.68 kilometers spread over 13 timed special stages.
2025 Qatar International Rally – Full Entry List:
1. Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari (QAT) / Lorcan Moore (IRL) – Citroën C3 Rally 2*
2. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT) / Candido Carrera (ESP) – Škoda Fabia RS Rally 2*
3. Abdullah Al-Rawahi (OMN) / Ata Al-Hmoud (JOR) – Škoda Fabia RS Rally 2*
4. Mads Østberg (NOR) / Sergiu Itu (ROU) – Škoda Fabia R5 Rally 2
5. Rakan Al-Rashed (SAU) / Hugo Magalhães (PRT) – Toyota GR Yaris Rally 2*
6. Nasser Khalifa Al-Attiyah (QAT) / Ziad Chehab (LEB) – Ford Fiesta Mk II Rally 2*
7. Denis Krotov (KGZ) / Yury Kulikov (CYP) – Škoda Fabia R5 Rally 2*
8. Shaker Jweihan (JOR) / Nancy Al-Majali (JOR) – Ford Fiesta Rally 3
9. Rashid Al-Muhannadi (QAT) / Gary McElhinney (IRL) – Peugeot 208 Rally 4*
10. Shadi Shaban (JOR) / Samer Issa (JOR) – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX*
11. Abdullah Al-Zubair (OMN) / Taha Al-Zadjali (OMN) – Subaru Impreza*
12. Mohammed Al-Atteya (QAT) / Savvas Laos (CYP) – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
13. Ihab Al-Shurafa (JOR) / Ahmad Jankhout (JOR) – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X*
14. Ahmad Khaled (LEB) / Samer Sfeir (LEB) – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X*
15. Zakariya Al-Aamri (OMN) / Mohammed Al-Mazroui (OMN) – Subaru Impreza N14*
16. Jassim Al-Muqahwi (KWT) / Suleiman Al-Helal (KWT) – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X*
17. Jad Al-Aawar (LEB) / Vicken Kanledjian (LEB) – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X*
18. Mohamed Mansoor Parol (IND) / Joseph Lenin (IND) – Subaru Impreza*
19. Simone Temeroil (SMR) / Davide Simoncini (SMR) – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
20. Stefano Marrini (ITA) / Silvio Valentini (ITA) – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
21. Christiano Gabbarrini (ITA) / Alessandro Forni (ITA) – Subaru Impreza WRX STi
22. Shadi El Fakih (LEB) / Joseph Kmeid (LEB) – Renault Clio
23. Payyaakkal Panikkaveettil (IND) / Musa Sherif (IND) – Ford Fiesta Rally 2*
24. Mohammed Al-Marri (QAT) / Yannick Roche (FRA) – Peugeot 208 Rally 4
25. Saad Al-Harqan (QAT) / Pierre Delorme (FRA) – Peugeot 208 Rally 4
26. Ibrahim Al-Muhanna (SAU) / Hani Al-Noumesi (SAU) – Can-Am Maverick X3 (T4)*
27. Yosra Jazzar (SAU) / Faisal Al-Suwayh (SAU) – Can-Am Maverick X3 (T4)*
28. Mirko Carrara (ITA) / Stefano Tiraboschi (ITA) – Can-Am Maverick X3 (T4)
29. Marco Marotta (ITA) / Lorenzo Rossi (ITA) – Yamaha YXZ 1000R (T4)
*denotes registered for the MERC
This thrilling international rally promises to be a pivotal round in the MERC and a memorable milestone for the 50th anniversary of rallying in Qatar.
