Athens (Greece): Omani driver Hamed al Wahaibi strengthened his position in the 2026 FIA World Baja Cup following a determined performance at Baja Greece, the third round of the season, where he secured valuable points to retain the lead in the Challenger category and move up to second place in the overall standings.
Competing aboard his Taurus T3 Max Evo, the Omani driver once again showcased his speed and consistency, running within the top three positions throughout the rally. However, overheating issues within the vehicle’s systems led to mechanical complications that ultimately forced him to stop during the final stage and prevented him from reaching the finish line.
Despite the setback, Al Wahaibi had already accumulated valuable championship points by successfully completing the Prologue Stage and Stage One. Under FIA regulations, competitors are awarded points for stages completed, enabling him to secure enough points to maintain his lead in the Challenger category while climbing to second place in the overall FIA World Baja Cup standings.
Baja Greece featured a Prologue Stage and two special stages, covering a total of 543.86 competitive kilometres. Al Wahaibi remained among the leading contenders throughout the event before technical issues eventually affected his progress during the final stage.
His performance in Greece follows an outstanding start to the season, having claimed victory in both Baja Hail and Baja Jordan.
SECOND OVERALL
As a result, Al Wahaibi now occupies second place in the overall FIA World Baja Cup standings, just seven points behind Saudi Arabia’s Dania Akeel, who currently leads the championship. He also continues to head the Challenger category standings.
The FIA World Baja Cup requires competitors to participate in six of the eight scheduled rounds to qualify for the final classification. As a result, several drivers competing in individual events are not currently contesting the full championship campaign.
Reflecting on his performance in Greece, Al Wahaibi said:
“I am happy and very satisfied with my performance. Our pace was strong, and mechanical issues are part of motorsport.
“I am delighted to have scored valuable points here in Greece, which allowed me to maintain my lead in the Challenger category and move up to second place overall in the FIA World Baja Cup standings. Naturally, the objective now is to continue delivering strong performances in the upcoming rounds and further strengthen my position in the championship.”
Al Wahaibi also highlighted the importance of the experience gained during the event:
“Every rally provides a new learning opportunity. Baja Greece was extremely valuable from an experience standpoint, with challenging stages and fantastic spectators. I am confident that, without the technical issues, we would have been fighting for a very strong result and a place among the frontrunners.
“Every kilometre adds to my experience, and I leave Greece encouraged by our pace and optimistic about the remainder of the season.”
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
