HAIL, 12 February 2007 — Rajeh Al-Shammari and co-driver Mubarak Al-Shammari clinched a thrilling victory in the 2007 Hail Saudi Baja, the Kingdom’s first ever international motorsport event, which finished in Hail yesterday afternoon. The pair began the day in third overall in their Toyota Land Cruiser, but hit the front on the closing kilometers when their main UAE rivals hit trouble.
Second position in a closely-fought event, where the overall lead swapped and changed over the two desert sections, fell to overnight leaders Ali Matar Al-Kebti and Ali Mirza Shahin, who prevented a sweep for the Al-Shammari family from the Hail Province by taking second overall in their Nissan Patrol. Mufadi Al-Shammari was third.
“I was really happy to be the first Saudi driver yesterday and decided to push hard today to try and win the rally,” said a delighted Rajeh, who now has the distinction of being the first ever winner of an international motorsport event in Saudi Arabia. “We had our fair share of problems over the two days, but it is a fantastic feeling to win the Hail Rally. I thank Toyota so much for its support for the event and for our region’s participants. In fact Toyota was there in every minute and in every second. Driving Toyota Land Cruiser I managed to compete and to win ”
Over half the original 30 starters began the final 198.60km selective in the Nufud desert to the west of Hail and the UAE’s Ali Matar Al-Ketbi held an 8 minutes 04 seconds advantage over fellow countrymen Abdullah Al-Herais. Al-Herais only took up rallying three years ago and began the final section after replacing a broken front axle on his Nissan at the overnight stop. Rajeh Al-Shammari was the leading Saudi into the final stage after overcoming a puncture and a suspension problem on the opening leg.
Ahmed Bin Soughat had lost time over the closing kilometers of leg two with a failing clutch, although replacing the master cylinder at the overnight service cured the problem and he pledged a big attack on the final morning from fifth place.
But Saudi’s Salman Al-Shammari led the field at the first PC, with Soughat and Khalaf Al-Shammeri in second and third. The overnight leader was down in ninth, but there was disappointment for Al-Herais. The UAE driver rolled his Nissan out of the event 30km after the start at a location one and a half kilometers away from the designated route. There was further misery for the UAE when Ali Al-Shawi was forced out of sixth place with terminal engine problems.
Mohana Al Saadi was running first on the road at the second passage control at 79.45km, ahead of Salman Al-Shammari, Mohammed Al-Shammari and Bin Soughat, as several drivers jostled for the top three positions. Sami Talab Al-Shammari, who had begun the stage in 15th position in the overall standings, was the fastest at the refuelling point at 138.33km, with Mohammed Al-Shammari in close contention. Bin Soughat lost 15 minutes and his chance of taking the win, although the outcome was wide open with a mere 49km to run.
The closing kilometers were held over fast, open tracks to the finish at Diehan and Salman used his local knowledge to eventually win the leg in a time of 3h 12m 24s. Sami Talab Al-Shammari was second in another Toyota Land Cruiser and Mohammed Al-Shammari set the third quickest time in his Nissan. Bin Soughat completed an agonizing event for the UAE by rolling his Nissan before the final passage control.
The event was organized by the Saudi Motor Sports Committee (SMSC) under the patronage of Prince Saud ibn Abdul Mohsen ibn Abdulaziz, governor of Hail, president of the Supreme Commission for Hail Development and the head of the Supreme Commission of the Hail Rally. Toyota Land Cruiser was the official car for Hail Rally 2007 and Hail Rally 2006.
“We are very proud to have hosted the first ever international motorsport event in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and hope that we can welcome a round of the FIA International Cup for Bajas in 2008,” said Mishaal Al-Sudairy, chairman of the organizing committee. The rally sponsors include Toyota through its Land Cruiser as the official car, Rakiza, Ahli Commercial Bank, Saudi Airways, Bison energy drink, Almarai, Saudi Basic Industries Company (SABIC), Eqtisadiah newspapers, Al-Jawal, Al-Rasheed Engineering, MBC, Sabic, Saudi Aramco, NCB, Safra Power, Yamama Cement and Saudi Oger.
