Riyadh, February 04 (QNA) – Qatar’s Nasser Al Attiyah won the title of Hail International Rally, the opening round of the 2023 season in the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, the FIA World Rally Championship, the FIA Middle East Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, and the Saudi Toyota Rally Championship.
Al Attiyah and French co-driver Mathieu Baumel timed 3hr 56min 17sec to cruise the Toyota Hilux Overdrive into a 15 min 19 sec lead ahead of Poland’s Krzysztof Holowczyc and countryman co-driver Lukasz Kurzeja , who timed 4hr 11min 36sec in the Mini John Cooper.
Argentine Juan Cruz Yacopini and Spanish co-driver Daniel Olivera’s came in the third place after timing 4hr 15min 19sec in Toyota Hilux Overdrive, followed by Saudi Saleh Al Saif and Qatari co-driver Nasser Al Kuwari who drove a Can-Am Maverick (T3) and timed 4hr 33min 28 sec.
Al Attiyah said, in a press statement after race, that winning the Hail Rally is a good start to the competition for FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, pointing that that he would start preparations for the upcoming round in Abu Dhabi.
In the Motorbikes category of the rally, Emirati Mohammed Al Balooshi took the lead with 5hr 43min 30sec ahead of Australian Martin Chalmers , who timed 6hr 05min 34sec. British Alex McInnes finished third timing 6hr 12min 06sec, while Canadian Jonathan Finn came the fourth place timing 6hr 16min 13sec and Saudi Mishal Al Ghuneim finished the race in the fifth place timing 6hr 28min 17sec. (QNA)