ALKHOBAR, 9 November 2007 — Thousands of spectators cheered participants in the 1st round of Mobily Desert Race held at the Half Moon Bay earlier last weekend “Tatees,” as the rally called in Arabic, is a popular adventure sport and the presence of large number of spectators demonstrated their love for the sport.
The two-day event was supported by the General Presidency of Youth Welfare and with the support of Mobily as the main sponsor and Toyota Land Cruiser as the official car, Mobil 1 and Okaz as among the other supporters. The event was under the supervision of the Saudi Motorsport Committee.
Special stands were erected for spectators at the event. When the stands got filled up many people climbed the nearby hills to watch the rally. There were separate seating arrangement for women and children. The rally was organized at Alkhobar Desert.
On Thursday, the first day of the two-day rally, the participants drove their own vehicles.
Organizers divided vehicles into three classes according to the capacity of the engine — standard 6 cylinder, and modified 6 and 8 cylinder vehicles.
Abdullah Bakhashab, organizer of the event, sai d that more than 21 car drivers and 15 motorcycle participants were asked to drive their own vehicles to judge their driving capability.
Ahmad Bil Hammar in the modified 6 cylinder car managed to top the first day with 01:28.536 expressing his happiness over the organization of the first desert rally in Alkhobar.
“I hope the organizers of the rally hold it regularly,” he said. There are lots of people who are fond of racing their vehicles in the desert. A number of enthusiasts come to this area at weekends to drive across sand dunes and hills.
Mohammad Al-Khinini in the second place clocking 01:33.159 has been driving in the desert for many years ago. “After a regular practice in modified vehicles, more Saudi youth will be able to take part in regional and international competitions,” he said.
Khalid Al Sadoon, who was in third position with 01:31.620, is also fond of participating in desert rallies. He drives across sand dunes at least twice a month at weekends. He feels if competitions are organized regularly, more people will get interested in the sport. “I have been driving in the desert since I was a kid,” he said.
“I picked up this hobby from my father, who was also fond of driving in the desert.”
On Thursday competitors had to drive again with new plans and new techniques giving the race a very exciting mood. The competition between the modified cars and the standard ones reached its peak when the modified ones ranked in the first place.
One of the skillful drivers was Huissen Saied who made a very exciting show ranking in the first position overall clocking 01:13:883. Ahmad Bil Hammar who managed to top the first day succeeded to be 2nd on the second day with 01:25:827. Mohammad Al-Khinini, the 2nd of the first day, ranked third with 01:26:113.
As for motorcycles, the overall competition reached its peak when Abdullah Suleiman topped the race clocking 01:14:541. He is also fond of driving motorcycles, “I’m driving motorcycles for the past eight years,” he said.
Apart from his motorcycle, Abdul Majeed Al Khalifah, who was in 2nd position with 01:17:452, also races in the desert in the 4-wheel all-terrain vehicles. “We drive for many hours when we come here at weekends.”
In third position was Abdul Latif Al Jandal clocking 01:17:775. “The success of the event will encourage the authorities to promote motor sport in Saudi Arabia and organize more championships in future,” said event organizer Abdullah Bakhashab.
On the first day, all the participants drove across sand dunes and on desert track.
Mobily the first telecommunication company to support such event and the main sponsor remarked that Saudi youth are very talented and adventurous and so desert rallies will promote their skills.
