Muscat: Salim al Touqi and co-driver Issa bin Mohammed al Wardi of Al Touqi team won the opening round of the 2026 Oman Rally Championship, the season-opening Jafnayn Rally, at the weekend.
The rally, organised by the Oman Automobile Association (OAA), took the eight local competitors through the challenging gravel stages of Jafnayn and Misfah, with the service area based at Al Maha Station.
Competing for the Al Touqi Team in a Mitsubishi Evo 7 in Rally 2 section, Al Touqi completed the rally in 50 minutes 42.1 seconds to claim first place.
Fahad bin Abdulrahim al Balushi and co-driver Jaber bin Khalfan al Siyabi finished second in a Can-Am X3 (T4 category) for X3 Overlanders. Their overall time was 50:47.7, including a one-minute penalty, leaving them 5.6 seconds behind the winner.
Zakariya al Aamri and co-driver Taha al Zadjali secured third place in another Can-Am X3 (T4). Al Aamri recorded a total time of 53:36.1, finishing 2 minutes 54 seconds behind Al Touqi and 2:48.4 behind the runner-up.
The event held on September 25, also saw two competitors retire. Ghaith bin Hamid al Qasmi and co-driver Bassam bin Hamid al Qasmi, driving a Mitsubishi Evo 8 in Rally 2 section, were classified as retired, while Faisal al Rashdi and co-driver Yaqdhan al Rashdi also retired in a Subaru Impreza STI (Rally 2).
Ahmad Soomar served as chair of the Stewards Panel alongside stewards Abdelmajid al Abri and Wadhah al Harthi.
START OF SEASON
The three-round championship features rally cars and Can-Ams in action across Oman’s diverse landscapes and terrain.
“We are happy to begin the season with the first round of the 2026 National Rally Championship. It represents an important initiative in our commitment to developing and supporting Omani talent in rallying. The event provides a valuable platform for emerging Omani drivers and teams to gain experience, develop their skills, and take important steps towards competing at higher levels,” OAA Managing Director Suleiman al Rawahi told Oman Observer.
The Oman Rally Championship is featuring rounds across different governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, which provide a wide variety of routes well suited to rally competition. This diversity gives each round its own unique character and presents drivers with new challenges.
The second round is scheduled for October 23 while the third and final round is set for November 27. The event is sponsored by GWM Oman.
Competitors tackled more than 100 km of competitive stages and road sections in the opening round across the different car categories.
Events Manager Wadhah al Harthi said: “The local rally has made a smooth start with the first round. It has been designed as an important competitive and training platform for Omani rallying talents, providing drivers and teams with the opportunity to gain valuable experience in a professional rally environment.”
Oman Rally Championship 2026 Round 1 Results
Final Classification – Overall
1. Salim al Touqi / Issa bin Mohammed al Wardi — Mitsubishi Evo 7 (Rally 2) — 50:42.1
2. Fahad bin Abdulrahim al Balushi / Jaber bin Khalfan al Siyabi — Can-Am X3 (T4) — 50:47.7 (+5.6s)
3. Zakariya al Aamri / Taha al Zadjali — Can-Am X3 (T4) — 53:36.1 (+2:54.0)
Retired:
Ghaith bin Hamid al Qasmi / Bassam bin Hamid al Qasmi — Mitsubishi Evo 8 (Rally 2)
Faisal al Rashdi / Yaqdhan al Rashdi — Subaru Impreza STI (Rally 2)
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