Strong winds, shifting sand and poor visibility forced the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) to cancel Friday’s 217.50km desert section of the Sharqiyah International Baja Toyota.
After delaying the start and then cancelling the stage for bikes and quads, officials had no choice but to cancel the day’s action for cars in both the FIA and National events too.
We were forced to cancel the stage due to the extreme weather conditions. Unfortunately the helicopters could not fly and it became a safety issue. Force majeure.
Elie Semaan, Rally Manager
We waited. We thought the weather was going to clear. It didn’t. Therefore, we cancelled the stage for the bikes at the beginning and then we waited a bit longer, hoping we would get a clear sky. It didn’t happen. We didn’t want to run into darkness, so we cancelled everything. For tomorrow, we are trying to ascertain to run a stage and a half in order to keep 100% of the FIA points.
Elie Semaan
Crews were due to face a second 222.30km section on Saturday, but after Friday’s weather a route extension is being considered so the event can count for maximum points in the 2021 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas.
Saudi Arabia’s Yasir Seaidan leads Czech rival Miroslav Zapletal by 26 seconds in the FIA cars after Thursday’s qualifying stage, with defending champion Yazeed Al-Rajhi a further five seconds back in third.
The event runs under the supervision of H.R.H. Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, SAMF President and Chairman of the Organising Committee, with partner Abdul Latif Jameel Toyota and diamond sponsors MBC Group and Al-Arabiya outdoor advertising. Toyota is the official car, and Modon, the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones, provides logistical support.