DEAD SEA (JORDAN): Oman’s Abdullah al Rawahi and his Jordanian co-driver Ata al Hmoud produced a superb fight back from first day issues to finish seventh overall at the 2022 Jordan Rally, round four of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC).
With his Oman Rally Team Škoda Fabia R2 evo repaired after an accident on the notorious Jordan River stage on Friday afternoon, the Omani restarted on Saturday under the Rally2 ruling and was classified in ninth place in the general classification heading into two passes through the Bahath, Suwayma and Ma’in special stages in the Dead Sea area.
He continued to show excellent pace and set the outright fastest time in stage nine second fastest times behind leader Nasser Saleh al Attiyah in the other five special stages on Saturday.
That vital finish for the Omani ensured that al Attiyah was mathematically not able to confirm a record-breaking 18th regional title before the next round in Lebanon.
Al Rawahi said: “Friday was disappointing for us. We had made a really good start to the rally. I was having a good pace and trying to be close to Nasser. Unfortunately, we could not finish the last two stages. We went off the track and we got stuck in a ditch and had to retire. Otherwise everything was okay. We had a bit of over steer throughout the weekend.
“It was important to gather some points, especially as we did not finish in Kuwait. This time we had a few dramatic moments, but we managed to come back and the second day was good and the set-up for the car was much better when we went softer. The pace was there as well. Having Nasser in the championship is a great benchmark. He is a world class driver. Every time I try and get closer and closer to him and that is happening and he is always there to support as well. Hopefully in the future we can do what Nasser has been doing!”
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