Al-Rajhi cruises to Hail win

Yazeed Al-Rajhi stormed to an emphatic fourth victory in the Hail Nissan International Rally, which finished in the north-central region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Sunday.

March 22, 2015
Al-Rajhi cruises to Hail win
Al-Rajhi cruises to Hail win

Suhail bin Hasan Qadi

 


Neil Perkins

 


 


HAIL — Yazeed Al-Rajhi stormed to an emphatic fourth victory in the Hail Nissan International Rally, which finished in the north-central region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Sunday.



The Hummer driver was the class of the record entry from the start with German co-driver Timo Gottschalk and celebrated a fourth win in four different makes of car with a winning margin of nearly 70 minutes.



“It was a fantastic event and I am delighted to have won here with the Hummer,” said Al-Rajhi. “That’s four wins here for me now and that gives me great confidence to take to the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge next week.”



Rajah Farhan Al-Shammeri managed to fend off the challenge from Moteb Saud Al-Shammeri to claim the runner-up spot in the 10th anniversary event hosted by the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation (SAMF).



Khalaf Joan climbed to third place in a Toyota after Moteb Saud Al-Shammeri was slowed by mechanical issues on the final day and lost his place in the top 10. Ahmed Al-Gashimi finished fourth in another Nissan.



Ahmed Al-Nasser claimed outright victory in the motorcycle and quad category on his Honda bike and second-placed Abdul-Majeed Al-Khulaifi finished as the leading quad rider on his Kawasaki.



Sultan Al-Masood finished third on his Yamaha quad. Rajah Farhan Al-Shammeri had not missed any waypoints on Saturday’s selective section and he began the final stage in second place, 53min 01sec behind Al-Rajhi, the Saudi ensuring that Moteb Saud Al-Shammeri was down in third place at the start of the final 192.03km of action from Jubbah to Qana.



Ahmed Al-Nasser began the final section with a lead of 2min 03sec over Abdul-Majeed Al-Khulaifi in the motorcycle and quad category.



The shorter 85.37km final selective section for the bikes and quads ran from Al-Hafer to Qana. Both of the staggered stages started at similar times and Al-Rajhi began to pull clear of his rivals, as Motair Al-Shammeri and Ahmed Al-Gashimi took up the chase and were the Hummer driver’s closest challengers at the first checkpoint.



Ahmed Al-Shammeri rolled his Toyota early in the stage, but Al-Rajhi steamrollered the opposition and set the stage target time of 2hr 22min 10sec. He eventually won the stage by 16min 49sec.



Technical troubles ruined Moteb Saud Al-Shammeri’s chances of claiming a top 10 finish and his demise lifted Khalaf Joan to third place behind Rajah Farhan Al-Shammeri. Eight Nissans finished inside the top 10.


March 22, 2015
HIGHLIGHTS
SAUDI ARABIA
57 minutes ago

Hajj Security Forces complete preparations to receive pilgrims in Madinah

SAUDI ARABIA
hour ago

Passports Directorate facilitates pilgrims’ departure through all international ports

SAUDI ARABIA
hour ago

Islamic Affairs Ministry begins distribution of King's gift of Qur'an copies to pilgrims