Al Attiyah and Carrera Take Command in Oman Rally Opener

In a thrilling start to the 29th Oman International Rally, Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah and co-driver Candido Carrera established an early lead after completing the opening 2.52-kilometre Sohar super special stage in 2 minutes 30.7 seconds. The event took place on March 14, 2024, in dry and breezy conditions near the Sohar Entertainment Centre, setting the stage for an exciting competition.

Al Attiyah’s performance put him ahead by 8.1 seconds as the competitors paused for the night. Local hero Abdullah Al Rawahi and his Jordanian co-driver Ata Al-Hmoud finished second in another Skoda Fabia RS. Rounding out the top three was the duo of Hamza Bakhashab and Lorcan Moore in a Toyota GR Yaris.

Preparations and Competitor Updates

Prior to the race, several competitors attended a pre-event press conference, highlighting the anticipation surrounding the opening round of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC). Al Rawahi, who has only driven around 100 kilometres since suffering a serious accident in Lebanon last summer, expressed his eagerness to return to the rally scene. “It’s my home event, and I didn’t want to miss it,” he stated. “I’m not sure we are 100% prepared, but I am very excited to be back.”

Al Rawahi’s confidence was bolstered by his previous strong performance in last year’s rally, where he aimed to replicate success by winning stages. Meanwhile, Shaker Jweihan and Mustafa Juma led the FIA MERC2 runners, securing fourth overall in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX.

The defending FIA MERC Master Driver champion, Nasser Khalifa Al-Atya, completed the opening stage in fifth place. He remarked on the smoothness of the stages and shared that his team was looking forward to the more challenging portions of the rally scheduled for Friday.

In a twist, Bakhashab faced a late scare due to transportation delays of his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 from Saudi Arabia. After receiving a late scrutineering slot, he approached the opening stage cautiously, mindful of the delayed arrival of essential spare parts.

Rally Developments and Upcoming Stages

In the Rally4 category, Rashid Al-Muhannadi outperformed his QMMF teammate Mohammed Al Marri, finishing in tenth place. Conversely, Shadi El Fakih from Lebanon encountered issues with his Renault Clio, reportedly losing around seven minutes due to suspected fuel feed complications.

On the local front, Zakariya Al Ofi and Ammar Al-Balushi emerged as early leaders in the Oman National Rally, driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX.

The event enjoys significant support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, as well as the Al Batinah North Governorate and Toyota Oman. Competitors will face a demanding schedule today, with two passes through three stages. The rally kicks off with the Ar-Rusays stage at 09:13 hours, followed by Ar Rassah and Al Uwaynah stages, starting at 09:56 hours and 10:39 hours, respectively. After a regroup and service in Sohar, the stages will be repeated in the afternoon.

As the rally unfolds, the excitement builds among competitors and fans alike, with Al Attiyah and Carrera setting a challenging pace for the competitors to follow.