JEDDAH, 5 February 2006 — The first of two competitions leading up to the Hail Rally was organized at the weekend with more than 25 drivers from the Hail region seeing action.
The participants in the desert race (Tatees) round of the Hail Rally, which roars off next weekend, were divided into three car groups namely six cylinders, eight cylinders and standard.
The top three drivers to survive after the first day which consisted of endurance race and race against the clock were Turki Al-Moutari, Musad Al-Awad and Khaleed Al-Naeem.
Al-Naeem, in a six-cylinder Toyota Land Cruiser, logged the winning time of 10.65 seconds followed by Al-Moutari, in another Land Cruiser, in 10.93.
The second day competition was for eightcylinder cars. Though there were entries, unfortunately none managed to finish the race despite being cheered on by more than 1,5000 spectators who trooped to the Al-Juba region famed for its tough to negotiate sand hills.
Omar Al Yahia and Ahmad Safani ruled the race for standard and souped-up cars in 8.43 and 5.71 respectively. There were 11 drivers who started both races.
The autocross event will be held today.
Organized by the Saudi Automobile Club in cooperation with the Office of the Governor Hail Region, Hail Rally is sponsored by Toyota (Abdul Lateef Jameel Co. Ltd.), and Bison energy drink.
