JEDDAH: Isuzu Rally Team is set to participate in the 2010 rally competitions including the Hail Rally set from Feb. 16-18, according to Bakhashab Brothers Holding Co.
The company said in a statement that it has provided the team with a two diesel 4x4 Isuzu D-Max driven by the 2008 Hail Baja Rally Champion Majed Al-Ghamdi, in addition to Abdullah Al-Dosari, who participated in the Middle East Cup Championship with his co-driver Ali Al-Saiari. The participation of the team in Hail Baja Rally 2009 was very successful and will give the team a great support in the upcoming race and to avoid last year mechanical problems.
The two Isuzu drivers are supported by a technical team under the supervision of Team Manager Abdulrahman Elhiraki, who directed the team in the Hail Baja Rally Championship 2009. The team will participate in Hail Baja Rally 2010 organized by the Saudi Federation.
Hesham Bakhashab, chairman, Bakhashab Brothers Holding Co., said: “Our vision of the rally world racing changed a lot after the International Automobile Federation’s (FIA) decision to stage the international Hail Baja Rally. This action has awakened our feelings and encouraged us to be ready to participate in this rally with a team of well known Saudi champions,” he added. “It is our aim not only to participate but also to compete and win,” he said, adding that Isuzu thus started working toward establishing a rally team depending on well-known Saudi rallies drivers including Majed Al-Ghamdi and Abdullah Al-Dosari.
Al-Ghamdi, who is Bakhashab Isuzu Rally Team driver, was one of the original young local drivers to be nurtured in the regional rally series by former FIA Middle East champion Abdullah Bakhashab. “We started a long time ago to be ready for the upcoming Hail Rally and have a great desire to win group T2 title,” Al-Ghamdi said. It was a great surprise for motosport amateurs to see Isuzu as one of the international Hail Baja Rally 2009 within group T2 through the whole new Isuzu D-Max. This car has also a great history participating in the international Baja rallies driven by Italian and Portuguese teams achieving impressive results in the Paris Dakar Rally with a 200-horse power diesel engine developed. Abdulrahman Elhiraki, Bakhashab Isuzu rally team manager, said: “Two well equipped Isuzu D-Max cars are ready to participate in group T2.”
