Lebanon’s Roger Feghali and co-driver Joseph Matar (Volkswagen Polo GTI Rally2) won the 45th Coral Rally of Lebanon, organised over three days by the Automobile and Touring Club of Lebanon (ATCL) as round four of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship. Oman’s Abdullah Al Rawahi and Jordanian co-driver Ata Al Hamoud (Skoda Fabia R5 Rally2) finished second, with Lebanon’s Bassel Abu Hamdan and Firas Elias (Skoda Fabia Rally2) third.
It is Feghali’s 16th Rally of Lebanon win, extending a record that will be very hard for anyone to beat – the fingers of three hands are no longer enough to count his titles at the “icon” of Middle East rallies. In a short speech after receiving the winner’s trophy, and at the press conference that followed the podium ceremony, the great driver said he intends to reduce his participation in the coming years.
Al-Attiyah out on Saturday
After Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah and Matthieu Baumel retired when their Volkswagen Polo GTI Rally2 left the road on SS5 on Saturday, Feghali took control of the rally and flew clear at the front with no real opposition. The fight for second was left to Al Rawahi and Abu Hamdan after Alex Feghali retired on the final day.
Sunday’s four special stages took place in the Metn. Feghali set the fastest times without pushing too hard, wary of any surprise, and finished 3 minutes 46 seconds ahead of Al Rawahi and 4 minutes 42 seconds ahead of Abu Hamdan.
In the Middle East championship, Al Rawahi moved to the top of the standings with 84 points, taking the lead from Al-Attiyah (78), with Kuwait’s Mshari Al-Thefiri third on 55.
Provisional unofficial classification
- Roger Feghali / Joseph Matar – Volkswagen Polo GTI Rally2: 1h52m53s
- Abdullah Al Rawahi (Oman) / Ata Al Hamoud (Jordan) – Skoda Fabia R5 Rally2: 1h56m39s
- Bassel Abu Hamdan / Firas Elias – Skoda Fabia Rally2: 1h57m35s
- Rabih Ayoub / Georges Nader – Skoda Fabia Rally2: 2h01m40s
- Elias Dehni / Amine Akl – Citroën DS3: 2h06m23s
- Raafat Al Mohtar / Omar Mazkour – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10: 2h07m05s
- Tarek Younis / Salim Jleilaty – Ford Fiesta R5 Rally2: 2h09m50s
- Chadi Fakieh / Samer Sfeir – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10: 2h11m01s
- Carl Rizk / Karim Abou Elias – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9: 2h12m01s
- Charbel Chebli / Dolyne Chlink – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8: 2h12m50s
- Ahmad Khaled / Joseph Kmeid – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10: 2h13m52s
- Joseph Salem / Sami Awad – Peugeot 208: 2h14m55s
- Nabil Kombaz / Karim Kombaz – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9: 2h16m37s
- Tony Germanos / Elie Mhanna – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9: 2h18m15s
- Walid Schlink / Andre Achkouty – Renault Clio: 2h23m37s
- Yousef Al-Dhafeeri (Kuwait) / Carlos Hanna – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10: 2h26m26s
- Paul Ksaifi / Rawad Issa – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10: 2h27m52s
- Rouwad El-Hachem / Gary Koundakjian – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9: 2h28m55s
- Joanna Hassoun / Clara Janbar – Renault Clio: 2h38m10s
- George Chehwan / Christopher Kanledjian – Suzuki Swift: 2h42m32s
- Albert Hayek / Louay Sakr – Renault Clio: 2h52m56s
- Mshari Al-Thefiri (Kuwait) / Nasser Al-Kuwari (Qatar) – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10: 2h59m53s
- Jason Wehbe / Andre Mhanna – Skoda Fabia R2: 3h20m18s
Class awards
- Group N: Chadi Fakieh / Samer Sfeir
- Front-wheel drive: Elias Dehni / Amine Akl
- Ladies’ Cup and young female driver cup: Joanna Hassoun
- RC4 R2: Joseph Salem / Sami Awad
- SN1: Raafat Al Mohtar / Omar Mazkour
- SN2: Charbel Chebli / Dolyne Chlink
- SN3: Walid Schlink / Andre Achkouty
- Co-driver cup: Dolyne Chlink
Podium ceremony
The podium ceremony was attended by Justice Minister Judge Henry Khoury; Tourism Minister Walid Nassar; Dr Raja Labaki, representing Youth and Sports Minister Dr George Kallas; Brigadier General Semaan Tarrad, representing Army Commander General Joseph Aoun; Major Georges Habchi, representing General Security Director General Major General Elias Baissari; Captain Marc Gerges, representing Internal Security Forces Director General Major General Imad Osman; ATCL president lawyer Elie Assaf; secretary-general Camille Eddé; board member and motorsport committee head Imad Lahoud; board members; FIA officials; rally officials; sponsors and members of the media.
Photos: MMS Racing.