QATAR: Rally champion Abdullah al Rawahi recorded a successful return to the podium in the Middle East Rally Championship in its second round, finishing third in the Qatar International Rally. Meanwhile, rally driver Zakaria al Amri secured victory in the Merc 2 class (Group N). Abdullah al Zubair was unfortunate this time, withdrawing on the second day after leading the Merc 2 class on the first day and the morning stages of the second day due to gearbox issues. Drivers competing in the Qatar International Rally, the second round of the Middle East Rally Championship, faced challenging stages, with frequent tyre punctures caused by the terrain and the presence of small rocks.
Omani drivers Al Rawahi, Al Zubair and Al Amri all suffered from these difficulties during the first and second days. At the end of the race, Nasser al Attiyah secured the rally title after intense competition with Finnish racer Mads Ostberg, Omani Abdullah al Rawahi and Qatari Abdulaziz al Kuwari. Abdullah al Rawahi was a strong contender among the front-runners, recording the second-fastest times in several stages behind Al Attiyah or Ostberg. He initially finished fourth behind Al Kuwari, but the championship organising committee imposed an additional time penalty on Al Kuwari, ensuring Al Rawahi earned a well-deserved third place after his distinguished performance. Meanwhile, Zakaria al Amri, alongside his well-known navigator, Mohammed al Mazroui, secured the lead in the Merc 2 category after finishing first in his class and tenth overall. With this victory, Al Amri remains at the top of the championship standings heading into the next round in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Abdullah al Zubair and his co-driver, Taha Soomar, demonstrated strong race pace on the first day, leading the Merc 2 category. He continued to perform well on the second day, particularly in the morning stages, but a sudden mechanical failure in the gearbox forced him to withdraw. He said, "We had a clear strategy, and on the first day, we topped the category. However, we faced a gearbox problem in the second period of the second day, leaving us no choice but to withdraw from the rally. I want to congratulate my colleague Zakaria al Amri for topping the category." Champion Abdullah al Rawahi expressed his happiness at securing third place and returning to the podium for the second consecutive year in the Qatar Rally.
He explained that the race was challenging due to the intensity of competition, the difficult stages and the frequent tyre punctures. However, he was pleased with his result, thanked everyone for their support, and looked forward to competing in the Saudi Rally. Zakaria al Amri also expressed his joy at leading the category, stating that he will continue to approach the championship with the same determination.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
