Hail Rally offers more than just a chance to compete for drivers Annett Quandt and Annie Seel

Crossing the finish line first is of course the primary goal of any racing driver, but for rally driver Annett Quandt from Germany and her co-driver Annie Seel from Sweden, it is also a time to learn about new cultures. (Supplied)

Joao Ferreira on stage one at the Hail International Rally. (Supplied)

Haitham Al-Tuwaijri in chilly morning action on his Yamaha Raptor. (Supplied)

• Saudi Arabia is ‘completely different from what we heard back home about this country; Saudis are very nice and friendly and … they host us and treat us so nicely,’ Quandt says
• Yazeed Al-Rajhi, Timo Gottschalk take the overall lead on Friday after the opening stage; Overdrive Racing teammates Rokas Baciuska and Oriol Vidal come in second

HAIL: Crossing the finish line first is of course the primary goal of any racing driver, but for rally driver Annett Quandt from Germany and her co-driver Annie Seel from Sweden, it is also a time to learn about new cultures.
The pair, who are competing in the Hail International Rally in northeastern Saudi Arabia, told Arab News ahead of the start of the three-day event on Thursday that they were delighted to once again have a chance to enjoy the rich culture of the Kingdom.
“This country is the best in the world for off-road racing; the scenery, terrains and mountains are amazing,” said Quandt, who made her competitive Dakar Rally debut in 2019, and the following year was the only woman to compete in the first Dakar Rally held in Saudi Arabia.
She added that although her main aim when she competes around the world is to win, she also likes to take the opportunity to learn about other nations and cultures.
“Since I started coming to Saudi Arabia for the Dakar Rally competition, I have really enjoy being here and have learned a lot about Saudi Arabia’s culture,” she said.
“What I noticed is it’s completely different from what we heard back home about this country. Saudis are very nice and friendly and wherever we go they host us and treat us so nicely.
“I am deeply touched by the hospitality and warmth of the people here. At the same time, I truly love the natural beauty within the country,”
Quandt, a trained sport physio who has been working for X-Raid since 2012, said she feels a duty to set the record straight about Saudi Arabia when she goes back home.
Speaking about her chances in the competition this year with co-driver Seel, Quandt said: “We’ll be trying our hardest again. Annie and I both know our strengths and weaknesses and we bring out the best in each other.
“The T3 category is an incredibly competitive class so if we could finish in a similar position to where we were when we went out last year we’d be happy.” Last year they finished 29th in the Challenger classification of the X-Raid 1000R Turbo.
Seel, meanwhile, is very familiar with the Kingdom, having been busy co-driving and coaching in the burgeoning Saudi women’s off-road racing scene.
“To come here and participate in rallies held in Saudi Arabia is always an experience and we are enjoying the competition and the Saudi culture,” she said.
“The past two years, I’ve been racing in the Saudi Off-Road Championship and there’s a lot of Saudi ladies competing, some of whom will eventually be entering the Dakar. I won a female-only (event) called Rally Jameel and there were over 40 crews on the start line. It’s getting really big over there.”
As for her chances in the Hail Rally, she said: “It’s not only the driving and navigation but also the mechanical stuff we do. But we feel confident that the two of us together have all the skills needed to take on whatever is thrown at us. We are both real fighters.”
On the opening day of racing on Thursday, the X-Raid Yamaha-supported duo finished in 10th place in the Prologue, and they were in 16th place in the X-raid 1000R Turbo category on Friday after the first day of the Hail International Rally.
Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk took the overall lead on Friday after recording a time of 2 hours 45 minutes and 58 seconds on the demanding 302-kilometer opening stage.
The Toyota Hilux driver finished 4:10 quicker than his Overdrive Racing teammates Rokas Baciuska and Oriol Vidal. Portugal’s Joao Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro were third-quickest, a further 1:57 adrift, in their X-Raid Mini John Cooper Works Rally Plus.
“In some places the navigation was difficult but everything was going well for us. That’s the most important and we are in the lead,” Al-Rajhi said.
Argentina’s Juan Cruz Yacopini guided the third of the Overdrive Toyotas to fourth place overall in the event, which is hosted by the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and serves as the opening round of the FIA World and Middle East Baja Cups.
Saudi driver Dania Akeel started the stage well down the running order after delays on the Prologue, but she climbed to ninth place on her first true desert stage in an Overdrive Racing Toyota Hilux.
On Saturday, the competitors will tackle a shorter, 164-kilometer second stage.