Three Formula 1 world champions will be entering the competition with their own teams
The first racing series with equal gender representation in the cockpit
Continental’s tuning partner ABT Sportsline from Germany is also involved

Immediately prior to the start of the spectacular new Extreme E off-road racing series, we finally know for sure which teams and drivers will be taking professional motorsports with electric SUVs to the most remote corners of the world.

With the founding of the JBXE team by former Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button, the final starting position has been awarded to a prominent personality. In total, the vehicles of nine teams went on board the St. Helena on her way across the Mediterranean to their eagerly awaited inaugural race in Saudi Arabia. Also on board were not only the tyres that had been specially developed by Continental to meet the special requirements of the new racing series, but also all of the equipment for the teams and event organisers – from the vehicles and mobile team pits to structural elements such as the podium and starting gate, all the TV and radio equipment and a vast amount of tools. In addition to this, there is also a hydrogen fuel cell for emission-free charging of vehicles.

JBXE team: Jenson Button and Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky

Jenson Button himself will be taking the wheel of the ODYSSEY 21 for the JBXE team. Alongside the former Formula 1 world champion will be Continental test pilot and brand ambassador Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky. In recent years, the Swedish driver has successfully competed in the Scirocco R-Cup Germany and in the rallycross discipline. In 2015, she took part in the newly established Audi Sport TT Cup. She started in the junior classification of the ADAC GT Masters in 2016 and in the Audi Sport Racing Academy in 2017, before switching to the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship in 2018, where she made history as the first and only woman ever to win races in that series.

Rosberg X Racing team: Johan Kristoffersson and Molly Taylor

Nico Rosberg’s Rosberg X Racing team consists of three-time world rallycross champion Johan Kristoffersson from Sweden and Molly Taylor. The 32-year-old Australian is currently the only woman to have won the title in Australia’s national rally championship. At the age of 28, she was not only the first female champion, but also the youngest champion in the history of the Australian Rally Championship.

X44 team: Sébastien Loeb and Cristina Gutiérrez

Lewis Hamilton’s X44 team consists of Sébastien Loeb and Cristina Gutiérrez. Frenchman Sébastien Loeb made his debut in the 1999 World Rally Championship, achieved nine World Championship titles, 79 World Rally Championship wins, and racked up more than 1,600 World Championship points, making him the most successful rally driver in history. Cristina Gutiérrez has taken to the starting grid of each Dakar Rally over the past five years – and crossed the finishing line every time. In 2017, she finished her debut race in fifth place in the Rookie classification and was also the first Spanish woman to finish the Dakar Rally in the car category. In 2021, she become the second woman in the history of the Dakar Rally to win a stage.

Veloce Racing team: Stéphane Sarrazin and Jamie Chadwick

Stéphane Sarrazin and Jamie Chadwick will be starting for the Veloce Racing team, which was co-founded by the current Formula E champion Jean-Éric Vergne. The Frenchman is an extremely versatile racing driver with experience as a Formula 1 test driver and racing experience from GT, rally and sports car races. He is one of the pioneers involved in Formula E right from the very start. British racing driver Jamie Chadwick is a development driver for Williams in Formula 1. She won the MRF Challenge Formula 2000 in 2019 and is the current holder of the W Series title.

Veloce Racing has a South African link too, as two-time South African Cross Country Series (SACCS) champion Lance Woolridge has been drafted into the team as reserve driver – making him the only South African driver involved in the series. Woolridge will be attending all of the races in his support role, contributing his valuable cross country experience to the drivers and technical crew.

Chip Ganassi Racing team: Kyle LeDuc and Sara Price

Kyle LeDuc and Sara Price are driving for the team known from the IndyCar series, which is teaming up with GMC HUMMER EV in the Extreme E. American Kyle LeDuc has extraordinary off-road experience and is the current Pro-4 Champion and World Champion (COR). Since 2008, he has won seven Pro-4 championships in the Lucas Oil Offroad Racing Series (LOORRS), achieved a total of three LOORRS Challenge Cup wins, two Pro-4 World Championships, and has twice been a LOORRS Driver of the Year. He has also competed in several Trophy Truck races with great success and won the Baja 1000 in 2016.

Sara Price is the 19-time winner of the US Motocross Championship and the first factory-supported woman there – under Kawasaki. She has won medals in motocross at the X Games too, which is the largest extreme sports event in the US. She has also competed in the Terracross Championship and the US Super Truck Championship.

Andretti United Extreme E team: Timmy Hansen and Catie Munnings

Andretti Autosport and British racing team United Autosport have come together to form a joint team for the Extreme E. As Formula E racers right from the outset, the Americans have a lot of experience in electric motorsport and can also draw on off-road experience from the American Rallycross Championship. United Autosport has recently competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship, the European Le Mans Series and the Michelin Le Mans Cup.

Timmy Hansen and Catie Munnings will be in the cockpit of the ODYSSEY 21 for Andretti United Extreme E. Swede Timmy Hansen is the FIA’s current World Rallycross Champion. Catie Munnings is a British rally driver who, in 2016, won the FIA European Rally Championship Ladies Trophy. In 2018, she came second overall with four season wins. In 2019, she won the Ladies’ category in the Liepaja Rally.

Hispano Suiza Xite Energy team: Oliver Bennett and Christine Giampaoli Zonca

Hispano Suiza is a Spanish automobile manufacturer. The team’s title sponsor is British energy drink manufacturer Xite Energy. Oliver Bennett and Christine Giampaoli Zonca are driving for the team. British driver Oliver Bennett made his debut in the 2016 British Rallycross Championship and has been competing in the Rallycross World Championship (WRX) since 2017. Christina Giampaoli Zonca is a rally driver with an Italian-Canary Islands heritage; she made her debut in the 2016 World Rally Championship (WRC). In the same year, she won the women’s category of the Spanish Gravel Rally Championship. She has been taking part in off-road races in the USA and Mexico since 2017, achieving third place in the T2 category in the Andalucia Rally last year.

Acciona | Sainz XE team: Carlos Sainz and Laia Sanz

Carlos Sainz’s team partner is the Spanish company QEV Technologies. QEV specialises in development topics in electric mobility, in particular electric drives for hypercars, buses and motorsport. QEV has had a connection to Formula E since the end of 2014 thanks to its subsidiary, Campos Racing. Just like Jenson Button, the two-time World Rally Champion, four-time vice World Champion and four-time winner of the Dakar Rally Carlos Sainz is taking to the wheel himself in the Acciona | Sainz XE team, which he co-founded. Laia Sanz will be driving together with the Spanish motorsport legend. She holds over 30 championship titles in various international trial, enduro, and cross-country competitions, is a five-time winner of the Women’s Enduro World Championship, and ten-time winner of the Dakar Rally in the Female class. In the Extreme E, the speedy Spaniard will be making her debut in automobile sport.

ABT CUPRA XE team: Mattias Ekström and Claudia Hürtgen

ABT Cupra XE is a second German team to be competing. ABT Sportsline is one of the most successful German motorsport teams, has experience in Formula E and has won titles in the Super Touring Car Cup, the DTM and the ADAC GT Masters, three of the most important German racing series in recent years. Mattias Ekström and Claudia Hürtgen will be in the cockpit of the ODYSSEY 21. Swede Mattias Ekström has been driving for ABT Sportsline in the DTM for 17 years already. He has won the driver’s title twice. Together with his own EKS team, he successfully competed in the FIA World Rallycross Championship. In 2016, he became World Champion. Since 2019, he has been working as an e-ambassador together with the motorsport-minded Spanish vehicle brand CUPRA on their electric future on the race track.

Like Mattias Ekström, Claudia Hürtgen has many years of motorsport experience under her belt. With successes in various touring and sports car series as well as appearances in several long-distance races, the German driver is one of Europe’s most successful female drivers. Hürtgen recently took to the starting line in the ADAC GT4 Germany and, for the 15th time in total, in the 24 Hours Nürburgring race.

The equal gender representation on the teams, each with one male driver and one female driver, is unique in motorsports and is part of the Extreme E racing series concept. Both drivers will take turns at the wheel, with the accumulated times being added together.

All the teams will start the races, which are to be broadcast live by ProSieben MAXX and Sky Deutschland, with identical technical equipment: an SUV called ODYSSEY 21 and 37-inch CrossContact Extreme E racing tyres specially developed by technology corporation Continental to put its 550 hp safely onto the track under all conditions.

Overview of race dates for 2021
AlUla, Saudi Arabia 3/4 April
Dakar, Senegal 29/30 May
Kangerlussuaq, Greenland 28/29 August
Santarem, Brazil 23/24 October
Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego 11/12 December

Source: Continental
Photos: Extreme-E

Al-Thefiri, Bell, Fournier and Al-Attiyah finish second, third, fourth and fifth in FIA T4 

The South Racing Can-Am Team enjoyed another successful challenge for honours at a Middle Eastern round of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, with the team’s four Can-Am Maverick X3s finishing second, third, fourth and fifth in the FIA T4 category behind a fifth South Racing-built machine.

Kuwait’s Meshari Al-Thefiri led the way for the German-based team and reached the finish of the two-day Baja - held on a demanding route through the majestic deserts of the world renowned Wadi Rum – in second place, 40min 24sec behind Saudi Arabia’s category winner Saleh Al-Saif.

Better known as the filming location for such Hollywood blockbusters as Martian, Star Wars and Aladdin, the deserts played host to the FIA series under strict Covid-19 protocols and UAE-based Briton Thomas Bell rounded off the podium places in his Can-Am. French veteran Claude Fournier finished fourth and Qatar’s Khalifa Saleh Al-Attiyah recovered from first day delays to finish fifth with the quickest time on the last stage.

Al-Thefiri teamed up with Qatar’s Nasser Al-Kuwari and he benefited from problems for Al-Attiyah to win the Wadi Rum stage by 49 seconds from Al-Saif. He found the navigation tricky on the second stage and ceded the advantage to Al-Saif, although the Kuwaiti enjoyed the stunning terrain and the challenge of the stages on the last day and maintained his strong title challenge with second overall. A harsh 45-minute time penalty imposed after the second stage cost the Kuwaiti a potential victory.

“The rally is excellent but we had a rocky stage today and drove carefully during it,” said Al-Thefiri. “Saleh (Al-Saif) was in front of us. We had a puncture and lowered our pace. I am very satisfied with the result and the performance in Jordan.”

Dubai-based Bell and Spaniard Armand Monleón completed the first selective section in third place, 2min 51sec behind Al-Thefiri, and consolidated their third place in the category on the shorter second stage. They enjoyed the challenge of the final section to confirm the final podium place in the FIA T4 section, despite also incurring a 45-minute time penalty after SS2.

Fournier came into the weekend’s action trying to defend a 19.5-point advantage in the FIA T4 standings. He again teamed up with Polish co-driver Szymon Gospodarczyk and was fourth quickest in the Wadi Rum opener and retained a similar position through stage two, despite incurring a similar 45-minute time penalty. The veteran managed to maintain a reduced championship lead after reaching the finish in fourth overall.

Al-Attiyah teamed up with the experienced French navigator Xavier Panseri for the first time. The Qatari was the pace-setter through the opening splits on the first 210.72km Wadi Rum stage but fuel pump issues thwarted his progress through the later kilometres and the Qatari was handed massive time penalties for going over his time limit. He failed to start the second of leg one’s timed tests and restarted on Saturday with 30hr 15min of time penalties, his event finishing on a high note with the fastest stage time in SS3.

“The rally was good in general,” said Al-Attiyah. “Yesterday we withdrew with a mechanical problem, fuel pump, but we decided to go to today’s stage to gain more experience, where we want to learn more and collect more mileage under our belts.”

South Racing Can-Am Team’s Scott Abraham said: “Another good event in the Middle East for the South Racing Can-Am Team, scoring vital points towards the 2021 FIA World Cup. Meshari and Nasser have shown that they are growing race-to-race and are getting even more experience in a cross-country environment. They are looking forward to getting back to more rally-style stages in Europe, starting with Baja Spain in July.

“Tom Bell and Armand Monleón put in a solid race, they got it to the finish and continue to learn together. The new crew is learning English to Spanish translations and it was a good event for them and good kilometres for Tom in the Can-Am. Claude and Szymon brought the car to the finish and continue to pick up vital championship points.

“It was disappointing for Khalifa and Xavier. They had a fuel problem on Friday and that put them out of yesterday’s stage. Before they stopped, they were leading the stage by more than seven minutes. On the final stage today, they were much faster than their rivals and only a few minutes slower than the third-placed T1. It’s just a pity about the fuel issues.”

Support for the South Racing Can-Am Team came from Method Wheels, Tensor Tires, Motul, Bell, Lazer and OMP.

2021 Jordan Baja  – FIA T4 result
1. Saleh Al-Saif (SAU)/Oriol Vidal (ESP) Can-Am Maverick X3   7hr 28min 11sec
2. Meshari Al-Thefiri (KWT)/Nasser Al-Kuwari (QAT) South Racing Can-Am Maverick X3  8hr 08min 35sec
3. Thomas Bell (GBR)/Armand Monleón (ESP) South Racing Can-Am Maverick X3   8hr 09min 00sec
4. Claude Fournier (FRA)/Szymon Gospodarczyk (POL) South Racing Can-Am Maverick X3  8hr 33min 48sec
5. Khalifa Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Xavier Panseri (FRA) South Racing Can-Am Maverick X3   32hr 53min 42sec

Source Overdrive Racing
 

Overdrive Racing’s Erik van Loon narrowly missed out on outright victory in the Jordan Baja and had to settle for second overall, as team mate Ronan Chabot rounded off the podium places on the fourth round of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas.

Van Loon and his French co-driver Sébastien Delaunay were locked in a duel with Saudi Arabia’s Yasir Seaidan during the two days of frenetic action through the breathtaking scenery of Wadi Rum and the surrounding deserts in southern Jordan. But the Dutchman was forced to open the road on the second day in his Toyota Hilux, courtesy of leading by 26 seconds at the night halt, and Seaidan managed to force his way through to snatch the win by 5min 24sec.

“It was a tough day,” said Van Loon. “At the beginning it looked nice. We had to open and you cannot do the same speed as when you follow a car. No punctures and we drive safe to the finish but the last part of the stage was not nice, only stones and twisty and second gear. When we came here, I was delighted to come on to the podium and we are happy with second.”

Chabot and French co-driver Gilles Pillot stayed clear of trouble to set the second quickest time on the final stage to confirm their podium finish.

“It was a good stage, no puncture, quite beautiful country. We enjoyed it,” said the Frenchman.

Van Loon had been the fastest driver through the opening split sections of the Wadi Rum selective section on Friday and won the first stage by 1min 27sec from FIA Baja series leader Seaidan. The Dutchman thoroughly enjoyed the stunning desert terrain, although he ceded 61 seconds of his advantage to Seaidan in the shorter second stage and reached the night halt in Aqaba with a lead of 26 seconds.

“Two beautiful stages, quite demanding and it was tough work behind the steering,” said Van Loon. “They were nice stages to drive and the road book was okay. The second stage we made a few small mistakes. We had to cross some bumpy stuff but the track went around it and we lost a little.

“The first one we win by one and a half (minutes) and we lose this one by one minute, so only half a minute between us. The problem now is that I have to start in front. It is better when he is in front. We managed well – no punctures. Séb did a good job and the car was perfect and two amazing stages. I would love to see those more.”

Chabot started strongly and was third quickest behind Van Loon and Seaidan through the first timed section and headed into the shorter of leg one’s selective sections trailing his team-mate by 9min 44sec. He consolidated his position on the podium with the third fastest time in the second test.

“Beautiful, the country was beautiful,” said the Frenchman. “No problems, but I need to try and find the road. It was difficult for the navigation. We did not get lost. It was okay.”

The 2021 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas continues throughout the summer and autumn months in Europe with five further events, starting with Baja Spain Aragon on July 23-24.

2021 Jordan Baja – result (provisional @ 15.35hrs)
1. Yasir Seaidan (SAU)/Alexey Kuzmich (RAF) Mini John Cooper World Rally  6hr 37min 51sec
2. Erik van Loon (NLD)/Sébastien Delaunay (FRA) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 6hr 43min 15sec
3. Ronan Chabot (FRA)/Gilles Pillot (FRA) Toyota Hilux Overdrive  6hr 54min 31sec
4. Saleh Al-Saif (SAU)/Oriol Vidal (ESP) Can-Am Maverick (T4) 7hr 28min 11sec
5. Meshari Al-Thefiri (KWT)/Nasser Al-Kuwari (QAT) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T4) 8hr 08min 35sec

Source Overdrive Racing

The second round of the FIM Bajas World Cup took place this weekend in Jordan through the beautiful Wadi Rum desert. Competitors covered a total of 859.37km, including 559.53km over three selective sections.

Unsurprisingly, Mohammed Al-Balooshi (Husqvarna) won both legs, followed by his ‘pupil’, the Jordanian rider Abdullah Abu Aisheh (KTM), and the Saudi rider Abdulhalim Al-Mogheera.

“This year the Jordan Baja was much more difficult than it was two years ago,” said Al-Balooshi, who repeated his feat and won the event for a second time. “Yesterday, I had a little trouble navigating because I’m no longer used to riding without the arrows. I’m a little rusty. I’m also tired today. I guess I am still recovering from January’s Covid.
Today, I rode with Abdullah (Abu Aisheh), but I took it easy most of the time. I’m happy that I won but if Abdullah hadn’t had an eight-minute penalty yesterday it would have been more difficult for me. I would have needed to attack more.
That said, I also received three minutes of penalties yesterday for taking the start late and, if he had won, I would have been very proud of him because I am his coach and that would have meant that I had done a good job.”

Despite hefty penalties from arriving late at the start on the first day (eight minutes) and then missing a waypoint today (15 minutes), Abdullah Abu Aisheh finished second in his master’s tyre tracks.

“It was a difficult special stage, only stones and gravel, no dunes or sand, only four kilometres from the start of the special,” said Abu Aisheh. “Mohammed and I rode together. I didn’t crash and I finished second behind my trainer. It’s fantastic! I took an eight-minute penalty yesterday for being late for the selective section, but I’m learning.”

Abdulhalim Al-Mogheera (KTM) completed the podium from Amit Sadot (KTM) in fourth and fifth-placed Paulo Olivera (Husqvarna) who won the veteran’s section.

Zaid Jaber (Husqvarna) missed the start this morning after injuring his back on Friday.

In the quad category, the victory fell to Faisal Al-Suwayh (Yamaha). Haitham Al-Tuwayjri was forced to retire on day one with mechanical issues and fellow Saudi Hani Al-Noumesi (Yamaha) was not classified in the results by race officials today.

FIM Bikes – final results
1. Mohammed Al-Balooshi (ARE) Husqvarna 450 9hr 47min 02sec
2. Abdullah Abu Aisheh (JOR) KTM 450 Rally Replica @18min 47sec
3. Abdulahim Al-Mogheera (SAU) KTM EXC F450. @1hr 30min 44sec
4. Amit Sadot (ISR) KTM @2hr 09min 43sec
5. Paulo Olivera (MOZ) Husqvarna 450 @2hr 49min 06sec
6. Salman Farhan (BRN) Husqvarna FE450 @21hr 27min 58sec
7. Rotem Costa (ISR) KTM FR Rally Replica @31hr 44min 04sec

FIM Quads – final results
1. Faisal Al-Suwayh (SAU) Yamaha YFZ 450R 45hr 00min 00sec

Source FIM
Photos Rallyzone

Seaidan extends his World Cup lead
The Saudi driver produces inpressive fightback

Having taken victory a fortnight ago at the Sharqiyah Baja in Saudi Arabia, Yasir Seaidan and Alexey Kuzmich repeated their success in Jordan. The duo in the MINI JCW Rally won round four of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas and, in doing so, extended their lead at the top of the overall standings.
 
Seaidan and Kuzmich ended day one of the Jordan Baja in second place overall. They clocked the second-fastest time on the opening special stage, behind Erik van Loon in a Toyota. The MINI JCW Rally crew then won stage two and reduced their deficit to 26 seconds. Seaidan and Kuzmich then went on the attack on the third and final stage, which they won by over a minute. This excellent performance was enough to give the MINI JCW Rally duo overall victory at the Baja Jordan.
 
The next event in the World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas is the Baja Aragon in Spain on 23rd and 24th July 2021. The Rally Andalucía forms the opening round of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies and also takes place in Spain, from 12th to 17th May 2021.

Jordan Baja – overall standings after SS3
1. Y. Seaidan / A. Kuzmich – MINI JCW Raly – 6h 37m 51s
2. E. van Loon / S. Delaunay – Toyota – 6h 43m 15s
3. R. Chabot / G. Pillot – Toyota – 6h 54m 31s
4. S. Al-Saif / O. Vidal – CanAm – 7h 28m 11s
5. M. Al-Thefiri / N. Al-Kuwari – CanAm – 8h 08m 35s

Source X-Raid
 

Al-Balooshi and Abu Aisheh confirm first and second places in the bikes
Saleh Al-Saif moves into FIA T4 title contention with category win

Saudi Arabia’s Yasir Seaidan took full advantage of his starting position for the final stage to snatch victory away from Dutch rival Erik van Loon at the Jordan Baja.

A second outright win in the space of three weeks for the Mini John Cooper Works Rally driver also means that he extends his early season advantage in the Drivers’ Championship of the 2021 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, before the series heads into a three-month break before five European rounds between July and October.

Teams tackled a 235.82km stage through Wadi Rum and the surrounding deserts on the final morning and Van Loon set out to defend a 26-second lead, despite running first on the road and having the added burden of opening the track in terms of navigation. Rival Seaidan took full advantage and managed to close in on the Dutchman as the stage progressed and overhauled the Toyota Hilux driver to secure the win by 5min 24sec.

“It was not easy but our performance became better than yesterday,” said the Saudi, who was partnered by Alexey Kuzmich. “We tried to be more safe today. Unfortunately, after 50km, we get a slow puncture and decided to continue to see what happened.

“We are glad that we finished without changing the tyre. We overtook Van Loon after 54km and we continued in front of him. Then we made a mistake and he overtook us and then we came back again to him and we continued in front of him to the finish. I am leading the championship with two wins. I hope I keep it like this until we finish the season.”

“It was a tough day,” said Van Loon. “At the beginning it looked nice. We had to open and you cannot do the same speed as when you follow a car. No punctures and we drive safe to the finish but the last part of the stage was not nice, only stones and twisty and second gear. When we came here, I was delighted to come on to the podium and we are happy with second.”

Ronan Chabot was never troubled in the second of the Toyotas and the Frenchman and fellow countryman Gilles Pillot cruised to the finish in third place.

“It was a good stage, no puncture, quite beautiful country. We enjoyed it.”

Saleh Al-Saif stormed into contention for the FIA T4 Championship with victory in his Can-Am Maverick X3. The Saudi had done all the hard work to gain a good lead on the first day and he stayed clear of trouble through the closing kilometres to seal the win.

“We had a comfortable margin thanks to yesterday’s result,” said the Saudi. “We benefited from it today, as we did not push much. The layout is great. I thank Jordan Motorsport for the route and the precise road book.”

Kuwait’s Meshari Al-Thefiri continued his title bid with second in T4 and fifth overall, Dubai-based Briton Thomas Bell came home in sixth and French veteran Claude Fournier maintained a reduced championship lead after finishing fourth in T4 and seventh overall.

The fastest T4 time on the final day fell to Khalifa Saleh Al-Attiyah, but fuel issues had ruined the Qatari’s chance of challenging for the win on Friday. He finished fifth in T4.

Saudi female driver Dania Akeel completed her second international event, with French navigator Stéphane Duplé on this occasion, and moved into a clear lead in the FIA T3 championship standings. She finished eighth overall.

Various time penalties were imposed on several drivers and riders before the restart. They did not affect the overall standings in the FIA category but cost Abdullah Abu Aisheh more time in his duel with Mohammed Al-Balooshi in the motorcycle section and the local rider began the final day trailing by 5min 24sec

The duo rode together for much of the final stage and Al-Balooshi held on to secure the win on two wheels by 3min 47sec, but that was increased to 18min 47sec when his rival was handed a 15-minute penalty. The young Jordanian he has been coaching in the UAE confirmed second place and Saudi Arabia’s Abdulhalim Al-Mogheera finished a distant third on this second round of the 2021 FIM Bajas World Cup.

“It was a very tough stage, but I was leading by eight minutes and I just took it easy,” said Al-Balooshi. “I was tired from yesterday. I guess I am still recovering from January’s Covid. I am not 100%. I thought I was. I stayed behind Abdullah. He did a great job and we rode together. I could not ask for a better result. If he had not had the penalty, I would have had to attack a bit more. This was much more difficult that my last win here (2019).”

Runner-up Abu Aisheh added:

“Today was a very hard stage, all rocks and gravel and no dunes or soft sand, only at the start for 40km. We did good, me and Balooshi, because he is my coach and my big brother. I was pushing all I have.”

Amit Sadot and Talat Al-Shishane rounded off the top five. Local rider Zaid Jaber failed to restart after sustaining a back injury on Friday.

Yamaha’s Faisal Al-Suwayh moved ahead of Hani Al-Noumesi to seal the quad victory. Haitham Al-Tuwayjri failed to restart after his fuel feed issues on the opening day.

The Saudi Arabian crew of Hamed Harbi and Waleed Al-Shegawi cruised to an emphatic win in the Jordan National Baja.

This year’s Jordan Baja was organised by Jordan Motorsport and received support from sponsor Zain, the telecommunications provider.

Jordan Baja – standings after leg 2:

FIA
1. Yasir Seaidan (SAU)/Alexey Kuzmich (RAF) Mini John Cooper World Rally     6hr 37min 51sec
2. Erik van Loon (NLD)/Sébastien Delaunay (FRA) Toyota Hilux Overdrive  6hr 43min 15sec
3. Ronan Chabot (FRA)/Gilles Pillot (FRA) Toyota Hilux Overdrive  6hr 54min 31sec
4. Saleh Al-Saif (SAU)/Oriol Vidal (ESP) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T4)   7hr 28min 11sec
5. Meshari Al-Thefiri (KUW)/Nasser Al-Kuwari (QAT) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T4)  8hr 08min 35sec

Bikes
1. Mohammed Al-Balooshi (ARE) Husqvarna 450   9hr 47min 02sec
2. Abdullah Abu Aisheh (JOR) KTM 450 Rally Replica   10hr 05min 49sec
3. Abdulahim Al-Mogheera (SAU) KTM EXC F450   10hr 58min 46sec
4. Amit Sadot (ISR) KTM   11hr 18min 45sec
5. Talat Al-Shishane (JOR) KTM EXC 500 Endur  12hr 02min 25sec

Quads
1. Faisal Al-Suwayh (SAU) Yamaha YFZ 450R  67hr 28min 00sec
2. Hani Al-Noumesi (SAU) Yamaha Raptor 700 R   80hr 50min 10sec

Jordan National Baja
1. Hamad Harbi (SAU)/Waleed Al-Shegawi (SAU) Yamaha YXZ 1000  7hr 03min 00sec
2. Ghaith Qubti (JOR)/Moath Al-Arja (JOR) Range Rover Classic  9hr 04min 05sec
3. Feras Al-Sallal (JOR)/Qais Khattab (JOR) Can-Am Maverick X3  10hr 19min 16sec
4. Haitham Al-Abbadi (JOR)/Saif Al-Abbadi (JOR) Range Rover Classic   10hr 27min 41sec
5. Juma Ferwan  (PLE)/Mohamad El-Sana (PLE) Mitsubishi Pajero 11hr 34min 02sec

Source Jordan Motorsport/Jordan Baja

Al-Balooshi leads local rider Abu Aisheh in the motorcycle category

Erik van Loon and Yasir Seaidan were locked in a fascinating duel for supremacy after the first leg of the Jordan Baja, held over a challenging route across Wadi Rum’s majestic desert terrain on Friday.
The Dutchman and the Saudi were separated by just 26 seconds after two timed sections of 210.72km and 112.99km on this fourth round of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas.
The Toyota Hilux and Mini John Cooper Works Rally drivers were closely matched throughout the entire opening selective with Van Loon leading through all the checkpoints and going on to win the first stage by 1min 27sec. Seaidan then clawed 61 seconds back in the shorter second desert sprint.

“Two beautiful stages, quite demanding and it was tough work behind the steering,” said Van Loon. “They were nice stages to drive and the road book was okay. The second stage we made a few small mistakes. We had to cross some bumpy stuff but the track went around it and we lost a little.
The first one we win by one and a half (minutes) and we lose this one by one minute, so only half a minute between us. The problem now is that I have to start in front (Saturday). It is better when he is in front. We managed well – no punctures. Séb did a good job and the car was perfect and two amazing stages. I would love to see those more.”

Seaidan admitted that he lost his way in the second stage and sustained a flat tyre in each of the day’s tests.

“It was so difficult, navigation really hard and the stage was tricky and twisty,” said the Saudi. “The stage was beautiful but the time between the two stages was very short. I got lost for a few minutes but I really enjoy it.”

Frenchman Ronan Chabot was a comfortable, albeit distant, third overall in the second of the Overdrive Toyota Hiluxes.

“Beautiful, the country was beautiful,” said the Frenchman. “No problems, but I need to try and find the road. It was difficult for the navigation. We did not get lost. It was okay.”

Five drivers were battling it out for FIA T4 category honours and Qatar’s Khalifa Saleh Al-Attiyah was the early pacesetter before hitting fuel pump trouble late in the first stage and incurring massive time penalties. His issues paved the way for Kuwait’s Meshari Al-Thefiri to win the Wadi Rum section by 49 seconds from Saudi Arabia’s Saleh Al-Saif.

Al-Saif then hit back to win the second stage to take a lead of 2min 46sec back to the night halt in Aqaba.

“Today went well, the second stage was good for us, but we were unfortunate in the first as we collect two punctures,” said Al-Saif. “I think my performance was good in the second stage. Meshari Al-Thefiri was in front of us and we passed him and made a comfortable margin. It will be important for tomorrow. The stage was very interesting, similar to Al-Ula and Tabuk, but with some differences. I plan to visit it as a tourist in future.”

Al-Thefiri added: “The stage is excellent generally. I got lost in some places where we were among the first to start, but we enjoyed it more than previous rounds. We treat the Baja as an exercise. Nasser (Al-Kuwari) did a good job and he surprised me with his superb attitude.”

Thomas Bell and Claude Fournier reached the finish in sixth and seventh overall and third and fourth in T4, while Saudi female driver Dania Akeel brought up the rear of the finishers in the FIA field in her Can-Am Maverick X3 entered in the FIA T3 category. She incurred six hours of time penalties for failing to complete all the opening stage.

Emirati Mohammed Al-Balooshi set the pace in the motorcycle category on his Husqvarna 450. The regional off-road riding instructor beat local rider Mohammed Abu Aisheh by 4min 47sec in the opening stage but his riding student redressed the balance in the second one and Al-Balooshi earned an overnight lead of 2min 30sec on this second round of the 2021 FIM Bajas World Cup.

“I’m a little bit rusty to do the navigation without the arrow,” said Al-Balooshi. “It has been a long time, like a year or so, but I am really happy. Me and Abdullah got together at the beginning and we rode together and then I don’t know what happened. I had a small tip-over and spend around three minutes stuck under the bike. It’s an amazing place. Abdullah was pushing me. If I win it is a victory, but if he wins it’s also a victory because this should be the aim of any coach. I’m proud of what he is doing.”

Abu Aisheh added: “For me it was a hard route today with more rocks and gravel. I am okay, no crash and difficult navigation but we finished second behind my coach. I am happy with this result.”

Abdulhalim Al-Mogheera was classified in third place and Jordan’s Talat Al-Shishane came home in fourth place.

Aishwarya Pissay was the first retirement in the two-wheel section: the Indian fell off her Husqvarna 450 and was taken to hospital for medical checks after sustaining arm injuries.

Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Al-Khater, Jordan’s Zaid Jaber and Kuwait’s Sarah Khuraibet were awarded additional time penalties for failing to complete the longer Wadi Rum stage.

Hani Al-Noumesi continued the run of good form that saw him clinch the win in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province recently and led the quad category on his powerful Yamaha Raptor. But, like rivals Haitham Al-Tuwayjri and Faisal Al-Suwayh, he incurred hefty time penalties. Al-Tuwayjri only completed 20km of the opening test before the fuel line disconnected and sidelined his Yamaha.

The Saudi Arabian crew of Hamed Harbi and Waleed Al-Shegawi comfortably led the Jordan National Baja in a Yamaha YZR 1000 after five Jordanian and Palestinian rival teams were badly delayed in Wadi Rum.

The event is receiving support from sponsor Zain, the telecommunications provider.

Tomorrow (Saturday), the Jordan Baja concludes with a final selective section of 235.82km that loops through the southern desert and starts and finishes in Salhiyah.

Jordan Baja – standings after leg 1 (unofficial):

FIA

1. Erik van Loon (NLD)/Sébastien Delaunay (FRA) Toyota Hilux Overdrive  3hr 42min 20sec
2. Yasir Seaidan (SAU)/Alexey Kuzmich (RAF) Mini John Cooper World Rally  3hr 42min 46sec
3. Ronan Chabot (FRA)/Gilles Pillot (FRA) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 3hr 54min 55sec
4. Saleh Al-Saif (SAU)/Oriol Vidal (ESP) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T4)  4hr 02min 11sec
5. Meshari Al-Thefiri (KUW)/Nasser Al-Kuwari (QAT) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T4) 4hr 04min 57sec
6. Thomas Bell (GBR)/Armand Monleón (ESP) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T4) 4hr 10min 00sec
7. Claude Fournier (FRA)/Szymon Gospodarczyk (POL) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T4) 4hr 26min 50sec
8. Dania Akeel (SAU)/Stéphane Duplé (FRA) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T3) 8hr 18min 58sec
9. Khalifa Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Xavier Panseri (FRA) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T4)  29hr 15min 00sec

Bikes

1. Mohammed Al-Balooshi (ARE) Husqvarna 450   5hr 34min 46sec
2. Abdullah Abu Aisheh (JOR) KTM 450 Rally Replica  5hr 37min 16sec
3. Abdulahim Al-Mogheera (SAU) KTM EXC F450  6hr 06min 13sec
4. Talat Al-Shishane (JOR) KTM EXC 500 Enduro   6hr 12min 08sec
5. Amit Sadot (ISR) KTM   6hr 19min 45sec
6. Paulo Olivera (MOZ) Husqvarna 450   6hr 57min 56sec
7. Mohammed Al-Khater (SAU) KTM EXC 500 12hr 49min 00sec
8. Rotem Costa (ISR) KTM FR Rally Replica 16hr 08min 06sec
9. Salman Farhan (BRN) Husqvarna FE450  26hr 15min 27sec
10. Zaid Jaber (JOR) Husqvarna FE450  30hr 56min 00sec
11. Sarah Khuraibet (KUW) Yamaha WRF 450 F  31hr 33min 00sec

Quads

1. Hani Al-Noumesi (SAU) Yamaha Raptor 700 R  30hr 45min 00se
2. Faisal Al-Suwayh (SAU) Yamaha YFZ 450R  45hr 00min 00sec
3. Haitham Al-Tuwayjri (SAU) Yamaha YFZ 450R   51hr 00min 00sec

Jordan National Baja

1. Hamad Harbi (SAU)/Waleed Al-Shegawi (SAU) Yamaha YXZ 1000  3hr 30min 52sec
2. Ghaith Qubti (JOR)/Moath Al-Arja (JOR) Range Rover Classic  5hr 09min 56sec
3. Feras Al-Sallal (JOR)/Qais Khattab (JOR) Can-Am Maverick X3  6hr 07min 08sec
4. Haitham Al-Abbadi (JOR)/Saif Al-Abbadi (JOR) Range Rover Classic   6hr 17min 53sec
5. Juma Ferwan  (PLE)/Mohamad El-Sana (PLE) Mitsubishi Pajero  7hr 26min 51sec
6. Hassan Al-Kaeid (PLE)/Yasser Al-Shek (PLE) Mitsubishi Pajero King  8hr 57min 28sec

Source Jordan Motorsport / Jordan Baja

De Mevius teams up with Tom Colsoul for his FIA World Cup debut

Overdrive Racing has entered an all-Belgian team in the Andalucia Rally, the first round of the 2021 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies, taking place in southern Spain on May 12-16.

Twenty-six-year-old Guillaume de Mevius will team up with the experienced co-driver Tom Colsoul to race a Belgian-built OT3 entered in the FIA T3 class and supported on rounds of the FIA World Cup by Overdrive Racing’s team of Belgian mechanics. This will be the first time that Overdrive Racing has run an all-Belgian team since its inception in 2007.

Overdrive Racing is running two Toyota Hiluxes for Ronan Chabot and Erik van Loon in the Jordan Baja this weekend. But workshop staff in Villers-le-Bouillet - under the management of CEO Jean-Marc Fortin - are now making their final preparations for the start of the FIA World Cup programme.

De Mevius and Colsoul will travel to Spain in May and on to the second round of the FIA World Cup in Kazakhstan on June 7-13. De Mevius will then tackle the other rounds of the series in the OT3: Silk Way Rally (July 1-11), Portugal Cross-Country Rally (September 16-21), Rally of Morocco (October 8-13), Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (November 6-12) and the Ha’il International Rally in Saudi Arabia (November 28-December 3).

Guillaume has a lot of recent experience in special stage rallies, both in the Belgian and World Rally Championships, and was Belgian Junior Rally Champion in 2017. He took part in Baja Portalegre and two back-to-back Hail Bajas in Saudi Arabia at the end of last year, winning the T3 section on his debut in Portugal and finishing second and third in T3 at the two Saudi events.

“I am very happy to be driving in the FIA World Cup with Tom Colsoul in the OT3,” said De Mevius. “For sure, everything is from Belgium, so that is quite a nice story. I did two Bajas already but I am happy to continue. This is the beginning for me in the cross-country events. It is a new adventure and I am quite motivated to learn and try to be fast in these kind of races.

“It is a new story for me. Tom has a lot of experience. I have known him for some years. The feeling is good with him. That is important in the car. I am sure he will explain me a lot of things.

“I am very happy to be with Overdrive. My father (Grégoire) created it with Jean-Marc (Fortin), maybe 14 years ago, so it’s quite fun to go back to this team. I was very young when I was going in the workshop. I was 12-years-old, so it is fun to go back and see the new OT3 project.”

Colsoul added:

“This is an all-Belgian team in a non-Belgian discipline. I find it quite cool. I am super excited about it. Guillaume is a young driver and has almost no experience in cross-country, but he has a good rally base and is a good consistent rally driver. He has a well-known father in this world and so do I (Guy). Even in cross-country, both of our fathers were driving very well at times. That is quite a funny detail and, for me, it’s nice to have a young driver. It has been five or six years since I had one. I like this kind of adventure.

“Maybe I like this more than driving with an experienced guy, who I can be sure of a podium with. Another cool thing about the project is that the car and the team are also Belgian. Another funny detail of Overdrive is that Jean-Marc was actually a co-driver of both our fathers...

“This is the first time I will be in a side-by-side. I guess it’s normally the other way round and you start in a side-by-side and you get to fight yourself to the big cars. That also makes the adventure quite fun.

“I am still under a contract with Bernhard (Ten Brinke), but he is not driving rallies in the first half of the season, because of professional reasons, and he will drive in October, November and December as a preparation for Dakar. He has given me the opportunity to drive with Guillaume in the first half of the season. Although I have done this since 2003, I always say that every metre you do is a metre you learn. I thank Bernhard for this opportunity. It is nice to start something new after all these years in cross-country and I look extremely forward to it.”

OT3 by Overdrive is a six-speed, 1000cc turbo-charged side-by-side vehicle eligible for the FIA T3 category.

The lightweight off-road buggy derivative delivers around 177hp and is built of carbon fibre with Kevlar bodywork, giving it an impressive power-to-weight ratio. The extended wheelbase also allows for greater stability and the centre of gravity has been moved to the rear of the vehicle to increase performance and balance.

Source Overdrive Racing

Haitham Al-Tuwayjri leads three Saudi quad rivals into FIM Bajas battle 

Yasir Seaidan has a superb opportunity to extend his early season advantage in the race for the 2021 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas title at this weekend’s Jordan Baja.
The Saudi Arabian driver heads into Friday morning’s opening selective section through the stunningly beautiful Wadi Rum desert in southern Jordan with a 14-point advantage in the series standings over defending champion Vladimir Vasilyev and a 15-point lead over Saudi rival Yazeed Al-Rajhi.
With Vasilyev not travelling to the Red Sea city of Aqaba and Al-Rajhi sidelined for several weeks - after cracking a vertebrae at the recent Sharqiyah International Baja - Seaidan and co-driver Alexey Kuzmich could storm into a useful series lead in their X-raid Mini John Cooper Works Rally after three back-to-back Middle Eastern rounds of the nine-round championship.

“I’m leading the Baja World Championship after I won the Sharqiyah Baja and the goal is to win here in Jordan as well to make a big gap in the points to give myself a better chance to win the 2021 Baja World Championship,” said Seaidan. “I appreciate the organisers for the hard work and efforts to make this rally happen in this situation of lockdown because of corona virus.”

With Orlando Terranova unable to travel from Argentina because of restrictions, Seaidan’s closest rivals are likely to be the Overdrive Racing duo of Erik van Loon and Ronan Chabot in a pair of V8-engined Toyota Hiluxes. Both the Dutchman and the Frenchman arrived in Aqaba late on Wednesday afternoon.
Van Loon will be hoping to bounce back from a disappointing end to his recent outing in Saudi Arabia. He looked to have completed the event in fourth place with French co-driver Sébastien Delaunay, but a time penalty of 30 minutes was later imposed by rally officials and the Dutchman plummeted to seventh place. Overdrive Racing has since appealed against the penalty.

“This is one of the most beautiful Bajas on the calendar, especially Wadi Rum,” said Van Loon. “It looks like Mars. But we are not coming to Jordan for that. Sébastien and I would like to show what we can do. We got a start number 201, so we will start second. We have competition from Seaidan, Chabot and some fast drivers from the Middle East. I can’t wait to get started."

Meanwhile, three Saudi Arabian Yamaha riders will slug it out between themselves for honours in the quad category that runs behind the motorcycles and ahead of the main FIA cars.
Haitham Al-Tuwayjri won the category at the Dubai International Baja and that success was one of the deciding factors in the 31-year-old Raptor rider’s decision to compete in Jordan and then in the third round of the FIM Bajas World Cup in Qatar in April.

“I am so happy to be competing in Baja Jordan for the first time,” said the Saudi, who current leads the quad class in the FIM Bajas World Cup. “It will be my second participation in an international race and the first visit to this country. But I know the location of the race from movies, Martian and Rogue One – A Star Wars Story. This landscape reminds me of terrain of Saudi Arabia, near Al-Ula, where I participated in 2019 and finished P4 among UTVs."

“I also did two Bajas in the National Championship – Qassim and Riyadh – in a Can-Am X3 and finished in fourth position. I have a lot of experience on the quad and finished ninth in the Hail Cross-Country and won leg four. My goal is to take first place in the FIM Bajas World Cup in quad class.”

Al-Tuwayjri lines up against recent Sharqiyah International Baja winner Hani Al-Noumesi and fellow countryman Faisal Al-Suwayh. The experienced Sultan Al-Masoud and multiple Hail International Rally quad champion Abdulmajeed Al-Khulaifi were non-starters.
Cars, bikes and quads were flagged away from the ceremonial start in the Old Port in Aqaba on Thursday afternoon after several leading competitors had attended the pre-event press conference by the Red Sea.
The event is receiving support from sponsor Zain, the telecommunications provider.
Tomorrow (Friday), competitors face two slightly revised selective sections of 210.72km and 112.99km through Wadi Rum, with the first motorcycle due on the opener at 08.40hrs and the leading FIA car following at 09.40hrs.

FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas – standings after round 3:
1. Claude Fournier (SAU)  43pts
2. Vladimir Vasilyev (RAF)   29 pts
3. Yazeed Al-Rajhi (SAU)  28 pts
4. Andrey Novikov (RAF)  21.5 pts
5. Meshari Al-Thefiri (KWT) 20 pts
6. Khalid Al-Qassimi (ARE)  19.5 pts
7. Miroslav Zapletal (CZE) 19 pts
8. Claude Fournier (FRA) 18 pts
9. Saleh Al-Saif (SAU)  15.5 pts
10. Boris Gadasin (RAF)  15 pts, etc

Source Jordan Motorsport / Jordan Baja

FIA T4 category opens the door to a golden future for cross-country rallying
 

The Jordan Baja gets underway in Aqaba on Thursday evening and sees Jordan Motorsport hosting its first international motor sporting event since September 2019.

Competitors from 15 nations will take part in the fourth round of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, round two of the FIM Bajas World Cup and a National Baja running behind the two international status events.

The FIA T4 category for modified production cross-country side-by-side (SxS) vehicles is one of the fastest growing categories in off-road rallying and five of the world’s leading protagonists in the category will line-up at the start of the Jordan Baja.

Cars such as the Can-Am Maverick X3, Polaris RZR 1000 and the Yamaha YXZ 1000 R have given newcomers and more experienced drivers the perfect introduction to one of the most challenging forms of all-terrain motor sport. 

Events such as the Dakar Rally now offer two different SSV categories and the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas has its own championships for T4 drivers and teams.

Frenchman Claude Fournier has taken part in the opening three rounds of the 2021 Baja series in Russia, Dubai and Saudi Arabia and arrives in Aqaba with a 19.5-point advantage over Saudi Arabia’s Saleh Al-Saif in the standings. He first took part in the Dakar Rally back in 1991 and won the rookie category.

Fournier was victorious on the opening round and third and fourth places in the two Middle East events have given the Can-Am driver a solid foundation on which to build his title challenge with Polish co-driver Szymon Gospodarczyk.

“This is my first time in Jordan, as it was cancelled last year,” said Fournier, who has now retired from the family wine business that used to sell 2.5 million bottles per year. “I am told it is a very difficult challenge, particularly for the navigators, and it is also one where there is a lot of punctures due to rocks.
I have also been told by everyone that it is a very beautiful event, so I am really looking forward to seeing Wadi Rum. I am not expecting many dunes.
Of course, I hope to win, but I know it will be tough as the other drivers are very good. I am one of the oldest guys competing, at 69, but I am feeling fit and strong. I hope I can do well here to help me win the World Championship and also to set me up well for the five European events coming up next.”

Al-Saif is, perhaps, the favourite on the T4 starting list in Aqaba after claiming maximum points at the recent round in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. Technical issues meant that he could only collect points for fifth place in Dubai, but he delivered a terrific performance two weeks ago to finish third overall and first in T4.

Al-Saif said:

“Jordan Baja means a lot to me, as I performed well in the candidate version and won the T3 title. I love the Rum Desert. It resembles some regions of Saudi Arabia, such as Al-Ula and Tabuk, so I feel a familiarity with it and I also love this kind of terrain – sandy, rocky and wadis.I got used to the Jordan Baja after two previous versions. My eyes are now on the category title. My position is strong after winning Al-Sharqiyah Baja and advancing to second place in the T3 standings. My chances are strong in this rally. Our most prominent competitor will be Khalifa Saleh Al-Attiyah. He is a big name and I am happy that he is one of the participants in Jordan, as it will increase the pace and the competition. I am trying to participate in all rounds and I hope to win the title before the season ends.”

Meshari Al-Thefiri has been a regular visitor to Jordan to take part in the Dead Sea-based special stage round of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship and has a perfect opportunity to overhaul Al-Saif and put the pressure on Fournier in the title race.

The Kuwaiti will be taking part in the Jordan Baja for the first time at the wheel of the second of five South Racing-built Can-Ams on the entry list. He has already claimed a pair of second places on rounds two and three of the Baja series and teams up with Qatar’s Nasser Al-Kuwari for the second time this season.

“This is the fourth round of the Baja Championship and we are third overall and half a point behind Saleh Al-Saif,” said Al-Thefiri. “Our programme is to compete in all the rounds, finish the championship and try and be champions in T4.I decided to do this championship because three rounds are in the Middle East, so I want to make the maximum out of it. This is also a plus for the drivers in the region to be able to take part in this championship. I am part of a strong team at South Racing and have been amazed at the level of professionalism, regarding the set-up, and the organisation. The car is bullet-proof and comes close to the factory cars in terms of performance and specification.”

Pavel Lebedev, Saeed Al-Mouri and Laia Sanz have already scored points this season in T4 but none are present in Jordan. That leaves the door firmly open for Qatar’s Khalifa Saleh Al-Attiyah to challenge for a podium finish.

The brother of the illustrious Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah – a three-time Dakar Rally winner and 13-time Jordan Rally winner - has already finished ninth overall in the T4 section at the Dakar this year and secured victory at the second of the Ha’il Bajas last December. The Doha-based driver will be partnered by the experienced Frenchman Xavier Panseri for the first time.

UAE-based Thomas Bell runs the car preparations company Sabertooth Motoring Adventure out of Autodrome Motor City in Dubai. He drives the fifth of the Can-Ams in Jordan alongside Spanish navigator Armand Monleón, the latter being a successful rally rider in his own right and the former winner of the China Grand Rally on a KTM.

The duo tackled the recent Sharqiyah International Baja and set some competitive times before their T4 challenge came to an abrupt end on a treacherously muddy section of terrain near the coast.

Tomorrow (Thursday), competitors will carry out their pre-event scrutineering and administration checks from 09.00hrs, after strict Covid-19 testing protocols were applied before individuals could gain access to the service park and rally headquarters.

Several of the top drivers and riders will then meet the media at the pre-event press conference on the Aqaba start podium from 18.25hrs, before the event gets underway from 19.39hrs on Thursday evening

Competitors will then tackle two challenging sections of 210.72km and 112.9km on Friday and a further 236.06km through the deserts to the north of Aqaba on Saturday.

FIA T4 Championship – standings after round 3:
1. Claude Fournier (FRA) -  57.5pts
2. Saleh Al-Saif (SAU) - 38 pts
3. Meshari Al-Thefiri (KWT) - 37.5 pts
4. Pavel Lebedev (RAF) -  27 pts
5. Saeed Al-Mouri (SAU) - 15.5 pts
6. Laia Sanz (ESP) - 13 pts

Source Jordan Motorsport

Saudi Arabia’s Dania Akeel leads three female competitors into Wadi Rum

Three Jordanian riders will be hoping to challenge their international rivals for success in this weekend’s Jordan Baja, the new second round of the FIM Bajas World Cup.
Talented young rider Abdullah Abu Aisheh is seeded at two behind Abu Dhabi’s Mohammed Al-Balooshi and has a superb chance of giving the Hashemite Kingdom a second outright victory in the Baja: Ata Al-Hmoud won the inaugural event on a Beta 390 when it ran as a candidate round for the FIA series in 2018.
Abu Aisheh is the national champion and trained in Dubai with Al-Balooshi before taking part in some desert races. He won the MX2 class in the Dubai Endurocross Championship and finished fourth overall in last month’s Dubai International Baja.

“I’m very excited to race the second round of the FIM Bajas World Cup in my home country,” said Abu Aishah. “The terrain is fantastic and the route should be fast. Wadi Rum is one of the highly known tourist attractions in Jordan and what makes it a great setting for the Baja is the diverse and dynamic terrain."

“It changes very quickly from sand to rocky sections to dunes. It makes the Baja a fast and technical route. What makes it even better is the breathtaking landscape, so we get to race and enjoy a great view. I will participate with my KTM Rally Replica and I’m aiming for the win. It should be a very challenging race, but I’m confident in my abilities to achieve the result I have in mind. I look forward to it!”

Zaid Jaber and Tal’at Al-Shishane also ride a pair of KTMs and represent the host nation. Twenty-one-year-old Jaber is taking part in his first Baja. He started riding motorcycles when he was only five under the influence of his father Ammar.

“I started riding professionally a year ago,” said Jaber. “My goal is the 2024 or 2025 Dakar. I came here for training with Mohammed Al-Balooshi. I wanted to race in the first round of the World Cup, but I dislocated my shoulder during training for the Dubai Baja. I watched the race in the Al-Qudra desert and learned a lot. I realised that the time is important, but the rules are even more important and if you don’t do any mistakes you have a big chance to win. I’m still in recovery, but was back to riding one week ago.”

Two Jordanian crews are also aiming for the podium in a National Baja that runs behind the main event and includes a shorter second day’s action in the deserts to the north of Aqaba. Haitham and Saif Al-Abbadi and Ghaith Qubti and Moath Al-Arja have entered a pair of T2 Range Rovers and will compete against three Palestinian crews and competitors from Saudi Arabia.

Dania Akeel finished eighth in her rallying debut at the Sharqiyah International Baja two weeks ago and the Saudi girl will be tackling her first event outside Saudi Arabia with French navigator Stéphane Duplé.

Akeel is part of the new SHERO Rally Team by Duust and has entered the event in a Can-Am Maverick X3 in the FIA T3 section. She had been looking forward to competing against fellow Saudi female Mashael Al-Obaidan, but her Jordanian navigator Musa Djierian confirmed on Monday morning that unseen issues had forced them to withdraw their Can-Am entry.

Akeel will now compete in T3 against fellow Saudi driver Ibrahim Bin Salamah and his co-driver Adel Al-Muhaia.

Two female riders will line up against 13 male rivals in the motorcycle category: India’s Aishwarya Pissay and Kuwait’s Sarah Khuraibet will duel for FIM Women’s category glory on their respective Huqsvarna and Yamaha.

Pissay, 25, finished third in the Women’s category in Dubai last month and hopes to challenge for the title in 2021.  The Bengaluru rider was the first Indian athlete to win a world title on a motorcycle – the FIM Bajas Women’s Championship – and has already secured six combined national titles in circuit racing and rallying.

“I’m excited about the second round of the FIM World Baja Rally Cup,” said TVS Racing-backed Pissay. “This will be my first time racing in Jordan. I’m going in with a positive mindset and hoping for a good finish without any technical difficulties.”

Restrictions on travel have forced the Argentine duo of Orlando Terranova and Franco Caimi to withdraw their entry. Terranova competed in Jordan in 2019 and finished second overall in his quest for FIA Baja Drivers’ Championship honours. The Mendoza driver lists the Jordan Baja as one of his favourite events and vows to return next year to tackle the unique desert stages in Wadi Rum.

The Jordan Baja gets underway with a ceremonial start in Aqaba from 19.39hrs on Thursday evening.

Competitors will then tackle two challenging sections of 210.72km and 112.9km on Friday, March 19th and a further 236.06km through the deserts to the north of Aqaba on Saturday, March 20th.

Source Jordan Baja
 

The second round of the FIM Bajas World Cup takes place this weekend in Jordan with 559 competitive kilometres in a total route of 859km.
Jordan is located on the eastern bank of the Jordan River and is rich in monuments, temples, tombs and archaeological sites, including the famous Nabataean capital of Petra in the south of the country and in close proximity to the Baja’s base in Aqaba on the Red Sea.
Fifteen motorcycles and five quads will be at the start of the Jordan Baja, which will be held in the nearby deserts of Wadi Rum.
Mohammed Al-Balooshi was third at the Dubai International Baja last month and was the winner of the 2019 Jordan Baja. The Emirati starts as the top seed on a Husqvarna.
He will have to defend his title against the Jordanian riders Abdullah Abu Aisheh (KTM), Zaid Jaber (KTM) and Tal’at Al-Shishane (KTM) and the likes of Portugal’s Paulo Oliveira (Husqvarna) and Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Al-Muaikil.
Two female riders are also present and loyal to the FIM Bajas World Cup - Aishwarya Pissay (Husqvarna) and Sarah Khuraibet (Yamaha).
Five Saudi quad riders, all on Yamahas, complete the list of participants - namely Hani Al-Noumesi, Haitham Al-Tuwayjiri, Sultan Al-Masoud, Faisal Al-Suwayh and Abdulmajeed Al-Khulaifi, a multiple winner of the Hail Rally.
The Jordan Baja will take place under strict Covid-19 protocols and begins with the ceremonial start in Aqaba on Thursday, March 18th at 19.00hrs.
Competitors will then tackle two different selective sections of 210.72km and 112.99km on Friday, March 19th and an additional 236.06km through the desert north of Aqaba on Saturday, March 20th.

Programm

Tuesday, March 16th, 2021
•08:00 - 18:00: Service Park Open for Logistics Operations ONLY

Wednesday, March 17th, 2021
•08:00 – 18:00: COVID-19 Protocol Start, NO ACCESS to event without Negative test result (48 hours validity) in the Service Park entrance, in Remote Service Zone entrance.
•08:00: Service Pak Operational
•16:45: Competitors Briefing – Service Park (briefing notes will be posted on Sportity)

Thursday, March 18th, 2021
•09:00 – 13:00: Administrative Checks – Rally HQ
•09:30 – 14:00: Technical Checks/Sealing/Marking at Scrutineering venue
•15:00: First Jury Meeting – Rally HQ
•19:00: Jordan Baja Ceremonial Start – Aqaba City

Friday, March 19th, 2021
•06:15: Issue Road book LEG 1/Sections 1 & 2 - Rally HQ Rally
•07:00: Start of LEG 1 – Aqaba Service Park
•18:07: Finish LEG 1
•19:30: Publication of the Start List for LEG 2

Saturday, March 20th, 2021
•06:45: Issue Road book LEG 2/Sections 3 – Rally HQ Rally
•07:30: Start of LEG 2 – Aqaba Service Park
•12:45: Finish of LEG 2

Source FIM