Yasir Seaidan set the fastest time on Thursday afternoon’s opening 10km Qualifying Stage of the Sharqiyah International Baja Toyota in the Half Moon Bay area of Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.
Seaidan and co-driver Alexey Kuzmich clocked 6min 22sec on the sandy test in their Mini John Cooper Works Rally, taking a 26-second lead over Miroslav Zapletal in his self-built Ford F-150.
Pre-event favourite Yazeed Al-Rajhi was third in his Toyota Hilux, with T4 leader Saleh Al-Saif and Khalid Al-Feraihi completing the top five. Dutchman Erik van Loon was sixth in the second Belgian-built Toyota.
Saudi Arabia’s Dania Akeel completed her first competitive stage with French co-driver Laurent Lichtleuchter in 10min 03sec to hold 11th.
Eleven FIA vehicles, 26 National Rally cars, one truck, 21 motorcycles and 10 quads were finally allowed to start round three of the 2021 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas and round one of the Saudi Toyota Desert Rally Championship, hosted by the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF).
Former Hail International Rally winner Saleh Al-Abdelali could not start his Hummer after it failed pre-event scrutineering; stewards ruled some fuel connections breached FIA technical rules and refused a start on safety grounds. He entered the National Rally instead, as did Saudi rival Ibrahim Ben Salman.
Al-Mashna Al-Shammeri topped the unofficial National Rally times, before penalties, in his Nissan Patrol, ahead of Al-Abdelali and Motab Saudi Al-Shammeri.
Bikes and quads
Saudi rider Abdulhalim Al-Mogheera was fastest in the bikes on his KTM EXC 450, half a minute ahead of Qutaibeh Al-Sharif’s more powerful KTM. Pre-event favourite Mishaal Al-Ghuneim lost three minutes and faces a fightback on Friday.
Haitham Al-Tuwayjiri edged Abdulmajeed Al-Khulaifi for the quad stage win, Yamahas dominating as Al-Tuwayjiri took a seven-second lead. Ahmad Al-Harbi was third.
The event is supervised by 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, diamond sponsors MBC Group and Al-Arabiya outdoor advertising, and logistical support from Modon.
Friday
The first of two desert sections through the Eastern Province’s sands covers 217.50km, with the leading FIA cars starting from 10.10hrs and passage controls at 30.73km, 138.50km and 172.56km.
Qualifying Stage – leading FIA times
- 1. Yasir Seaidan (SAU)/Alexey Kuzmich (RAF) Mini John Cooper Works Rally 6min 22sec
- 2. Miroslav Zapletal (CZE)/Marek Sykora (SVK) Ford F-150 Evo 6min 48sec
- 3. Yazeed Al-Rajhi (SAU)/Michael Orr (GBR) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 6min 53sec