Al Attiyah Claims 18th Win at Jordan Rally

Nasser Al Attiyah Dominates Jordan Rally with Unstoppable Performance

Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah and his co-driver Candido Carrera delivered a commanding performance at the Jordan Rally, securing a decisive victory. The Autotek Motorsport Skoda Fabia RS driver claimed all 12 special stages in the Dead Sea and Jordan Valley regions, repeating a clean sweep that last occurred in 2016. That year, Al Attiyah’s 19 stage wins earned him an impressive 18-minute lead over his competitors.

This time around, Al Attiyah extended his record-breaking 18th victory in Jordan by a margin of 3 minutes and 53.7 seconds. This win not only solidified his position as a leading contender in the championship but also added to his impressive tally of 92 MERC career rally wins. Carrera, who joined Al Attiyah in his second season, secured his seventh MERC victory, tying with rally organizer and former co-driver Khaled Zakaria in the history books.

Al Attiyah’s performance was nothing short of remarkable. After breaking Abdullah Al Rawahi’s stage record for the Baptism stage on Friday, he bettered his own record in Suwayma by three seconds on Saturday morning. Reflecting on his success, Al Attiyah said, “Absolutely, it was a good weekend. I was really surprised. We did the same stages as last year and we were even faster. It means that our set-up is really good. We worked very hard this weekend to get the maximum points. It’s nice to win all 12 stages. There was pressure there but we need to enjoy this victory.”

Oman's Al Rawahi Secures Second Place Despite Challenges

Oman’s Abdullah Al Rawahi and Ata Al Hmoud maintained a strong presence throughout the rally, securing the runner-up position in their Oman Rally Team Skoda Fabia RS. However, a strategic decision to use medium compound tyres for the first three stages on Friday proved costly. Al Rawahi suffered a puncture on the first pass through Rawda on Saturday, which affected his performance. Despite this setback, he remained consistent and managed to pick up valuable points for second place.

Saudi Drivers Make Strong Contention for the Title

Saudi Arabia’s Hamza Bakhashab is making a name for himself in his first full season of MERC rallies. Driving a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 supported by Jameel Motorsport, Bakhashab and his Irish co-driver Lorcan Moore overcame a five-minute time loss due to a double puncture on stage nine. Their resilience allowed them to finish in the podium positions and remain in contention for a title challenge.

Bassel Abu Hamdan, driving a Volkswagen Polo, gradually adapted to the challenges of the rally. He looked poised to secure fourth overall alongside Firas Elias until a late retirement during the final Power Stage at Rawda disrupted his plans.

Jordanian Driver's Rally4 Journey Ends Prematurely

Shaker Jweihan aimed for a third consecutive haul of maximum MERC2 points, but his journey came to an abrupt end after the eighth stage. Initially ahead of his class rivals, Jweihan engaged in a battle with Abu Hamdan for fourth overall. However, he retired before the first pass through Rawda, ending his chances of achieving his goal.

Consistent Performance from Al Atya and Chehab

Nasser Khalifa Al Atya and Ziad Chehab faced early challenges, including brake issues on the opening day. However, they found their rhythm on the final day, driving a Motortune Ford Fiesta. As other competitors encountered difficulties, Al Atya and Chehab maintained a steady pace, ultimately securing eighth overall.

Rally4 Drama Unfolds at Rawda

The first pass through Rawda dramatically shifted the dynamics of the Rally4 competition. Mohammed Al Marri suffered mechanical failure and retired from seventh position, handing the advantage to his Qatari teammate Rashid Al Muhannadi. However, Al Muhannadi also faced technical issues on the challenging stage, resulting in both QMMF-entered Peugeot 208 drivers being sidelined. Al Muhannadi had already lost seven minutes earlier in the rally, dropping him to the bottom of the rankings.

Upcoming Events in the Regional Rally Series

The regional rally series will continue in Lebanon on September 11th-13th, where drivers will once again test their skills on challenging tracks.

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