TABUK, SAUDI ARABIA – Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk stormed to a commanding 4min 21sec lead after the opening 245km selective section of the Tabuk Toyota Rally 2024 through the Zaita desert on Friday.
The Overdrive Racing Toyota Hilux crew opened the road and led the scenic, demanding stage from start to finish. “No issues, no problems, all is good,” said Al-Rajhi. Team-mates Dania Akeel and Stéphane Duplé made it an Ultimate P one-two at the top of the leaderboard.
It was spectacular and a lot of fun, amazing views and a really nice race. The first 85km were open and fast and the remainder were more technical between the rocks and the mountains and canyons. We took care to pass without any surprises. I love this car a lot and I feel more confident every kilometre.
Dania Akeel
Saleh Al-Saif and Qatari co-driver Nasser Al-Kuwari were best of the rest and led Challenger in their Dark Horse OT3, comfortably ahead of Can-Am driver Abdullah Al-Haydan.
The stage is different to last year. A lot of new terrain and tracks. It was a little bit tricky and rocky and we had a puncture at the beginning and we stopped to change. About 10km before the end, we also had another puncture and decided not to change it. My aim is to be second in the championship.
Saleh Al-Saif
Moaaz Hariri and Kirill Shubin set a top-six time to lead SSV in fourth overall, and Abdulaziz Al-Yaeesh was the fastest Nissan in the Ultimate class in fifth. Maha Al-Hameli, Hamad Al-Harbi, Waleed Al-Dhakeel and Owaid Al-Shammeri completed the top nine, with Jafar Al-Qahtani 10th and leading Stock. Abdullah Al-Shegawi retired with electrical issues.
Bikes and quads
MX Ride Dubai’s Mohammed Al-Balooshi won the bike stage on his Husqvarna in 3hr 07min 42sec, but trails local rider Abdulhalim Al-Mogheera by 1min 50sec overall after the Saudi’s Prologue win was multiplied by a coefficient.
Today, it was a very long stage and quite busy with the road book. I am really happy. I picked the strategy to start 10th and I knew if everything went right, I would win. I didn’t expect to catch everybody at 60km. Then I led to the finish. That’s why I’m here to improve my navigation. I am really happy with that overall and I am happy to be able to compete in the championship. I have won in Kuwait, Qatar and Oman but I don’t have a KSA title. This would make my list complete. I did win something in KSA in 2009 but it would be special to win this title.
Mohammed Al-Balooshi
Hamdan Al-Ali and Kuwait’s Abdullah Al-Shatti were third and fourth, with Ahmed Al-Jaber fifth. Seventh-placed Mishal Al-Ghuneim said:
It was a very interesting stage and a big difference to the Bajas I have been used to in Saudi over the past couple of years. The level is going higher and higher, both from a technical level of the terrain and the navigation. It is a full-on Dakar level on a mini-scale.
Mishal Al-Ghuneim
Haitham Al-Tuwaijri moved to the top of the quad standings ahead of Abdulaziz Al-Shayban and Hani Al-Noumesi. Saturday’s second selective section of 168km starts southwest of Tabuk, ahead of the evening ceremonial finish.