TABUK, SAUDI ARABIA – The Tabuk Toyota Rally 2024, round two of the Saudi Toyota Championship, starts at 13:30 on Thursday afternoon.
The Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) has prepared a challenging three-day desert route with about 419 timed kilometres for an impressive line-up of cars, motorcycles and quads.
Yazeed Al-Rajhi arrives in the northwestern city near the Jordanian border with an eight-point lead after he and Timo Gottschalk won round one in Ha’il. Dark Horse OT3 driver Saleh Al-Saif is his nearest rival, with Dania Akeel third after switching from Challenger to an Overdrive Racing Toyota Hilux alongside Al-Rajhi in Ultimate P. Al-Saif’s co-driver Nasser Al-Kuwari trails Gottschalk by eight points among co-drivers.
With Pal Lonyai and Ahmed Al-Kuwari absent, Germany’s Annett Quandt, sixth overall, has a chance to climb the standings after switching from a Yamaha YXZ to a Can-Am Maverick X3. Her nearest challengers are Hamad Al-Harbi, Abdulaziz Al-Yaeesh and Maha Al-Hameli.
The class battles
Al-Rajhi has dominated Ultimate P so far, while Al-Yaeesh leads Faris Al-Moshna by six points in Ultimate, with Khaled and Ahmed Al-Shammeri third and fourth. Al-Saif leads the absent Lonyai by seven points in Challenger, where Quandt, Al-Harbi, Al-Hameli, Hamza Bakhashab and Abdullah Al-Haydan are also entered.
In SSV, Moaaz Hariri – a point behind absent leader Ahmed Al-Kuwari – can pull clear, facing Shegawi Racing’s Esraa Al-Dkheil and Abdullah Al-Shegawi, Waleed Al-Dakheel and Orjwan Ammar. Muneef Al-Shammeri leads Stock by 10 points from Sufian Al-Omer, with Majed Al-Thunayyan four points further back.
MX Ride Dubai’s Mohammed Al-Balooshi rides his Husqvarna in a four-bike team with closest rival Abdullah Al-Shatti, brother Sultan and fellow Emirati Marwan Al-Rahmani. He leads Al-Shatti by 10 points, with Abdulhalim Al-Mogheera third and Hamdan Al-Ali and the absent Abdullah Abu Aisheh completing the top five.
Haitham Al-Tuwaijri (25 points) leads an eight-strong quad field by five points from Hani Al-Noumesi. Recent Baja TT Dehesa Extremadura winner Abdulaziz Al-Shayban is third on 16, three ahead of Abdulaziz Al-Atawi.
Schedule
Thursday’s ceremonial start at King Khalid Sport City precedes the Prologue in Tabuk, which sets the order for Friday’s first desert selective section. The final stage on Saturday morning starts in Shigry, southwest of Tabuk, followed by the press conference at 17:00 and prize-giving at King Khalid Sport City at 18:00.