BEIRUT, Lebanon, 12 July — Even as international French champion Francois Delecour praised the high standard of effort exerted to organize the 26th Marlboro Rally of Lebanon, the third round of the Middle East Rally Championship, held from July 5 to 7 with the participation of 51 teams from 14 countries, tragedy marred the event. A 14-year-old boy was killed as the official course-leading car left the road.

The horrific incident occurred during a stage through a village in the Chouff Mountains. A number of people, including a rally marshall, also sustained minor injuries.

The boy was playing with a group of friends when the vehicle left the road, according to witnesses and the rally organizing committee.

Rally organizers urgently convened and canceled the stage and called for another to run through the same area as a mark of respect, but decided the rally would go on. A number of post-rally events were canceled.

A minute’s silence was observed before the trophy presentation. A spokesman for the organizing committee said: “We deeply regret this incident and in the name of officials and recruits offer our condolences and deepest sympathy.”

Against such a somber backdrop, there were still some wonderful displays of driving

The third leg of the 26th Marlboro Rally of Lebanon started on the opening day under the patronage of President Emile Lahoud with 30 cars.

The Lebanese crew, Jean-Pierre Nasrallah and his co-driver Yusif Bassil on Subaru Impreza WRC led the race after stage 14.

Roger Feghali was first to launch, driving for Marlboro Rally Team Lebanon and his co-driver Ziad Chehab on Subaru Impreza WRC leading the race till SS 9. After SS 4, Abdullah Bakhashab, driving for Marlboro Rally Team Saudi Arabia and his co-driver Bobby Willis on Ford Focus WRC, had some mechanical problems. The car caught fire and its rear end was partially burned.

The other two WRC cars that left the race during leg 2 were: Roger Feghali, driving for Marlboro Rally Team Lebanon, and Ziad Chehab on Subaru Impreza WRC, and competitor Qatari Hamad Al Sowaidi and Michael Morrissey, also on Subaru Impreza WRC.

Lebanese driver Jean-Pierre Nasrallah came in 1st place after SS 14 leaving the second place for UAE’s Mohammad Bin Sulayem who holds the record with 13 victories, and the third place went to Lebanese driver Abdo Feghali.

On the other hand, Mohammad Al Sarraf, driving for Marlboro Rally Team Kuwait, achieved good results within Group “N” aboard his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 6 until he was forced out of the rally during the third special stage after his accident.

Qatari driver Abdullah Al Kuwari, came first in Group “N” ahead of Saudi driver Farouk Ghourab and Omani competitor Nizar Al Shanfari.

Among Group “N” main participants to withdraw from the rally were Doumit Bou Doumitm of Lebanon(gear-box failure) and Saudi driver Ahmad Al-Sabban because of an accident.

The third leg took off July 7 from ATCL as Jean-Pierre Nasrallah (Subaru) staved off the challenge of the mighty Bin Sulayem driving in a Subaru for the first time. Abdo Fenghali (Mitsubishi) was third. The top three had placed the same Group A positions when they roared off early on the last day of the three-day motoring classic.

Group N unearthed a brilliant new champion in Abdullah Al-Kuwari. On his debut, the self-effacing member of the Qatar Rally Team maintained his composure throughout a furious rally that saw cars catch fire and even plunge down a 70- meter ravine. Al-Kuwari also finished sixth overall, which gives him onechampionship point.

Al-Kuwari said his drive in the Mitsubishi Ev 7 was inspired by seeing his Qatar Rally Team colleagues drop out of the rally. Hamad Al Sowaidi’s vehicle developed mechanical problems and Mubarrak Al-Hajri survived a terrifying plunge 70-metres down a cliff face after encountering gravel on a mountain bend.

Overall Classification after SS 14:

1-Jean Pierre Nasrallah Subaru Impreza WRC 02:05:29.5 hrs; 2-M. Bin Sulayem Subaru Impreza WRC +01:37.8 mins; 3-Abdo Feghali Mitsubishi Lancer Ev 6 +02:11.2; 4- Bagheera Toyota Corolla WRC +03:34.2.

Group N Classification:

1- Abdullah Al Kuwari Mitsubishi Lancer Ev 7 02:23:34.9; 2- Farouk Ghourab Subaru Impreza WRX +03.9 seconds; 3- Nizar Al Shanfari Mitsubishi Lancer Ev 7 +08.10.