Toyota Race of Champions

Lebanese driver Roger Feghali won the Toyota Race of Champions, which ended here early yesterday morning.The two-day event at a special double track developed by experts at the Dallah Al-Baraka Club in north Jeddah attracted a large number of rally enthusiasts and their families.

However, to their utter surprise and disappointment, Saudi champion Abdullah Bakhashab had to withdraw in his first lap as he found the going rough with the gearbox of his car — Corolla WRC developing trouble during the final stages of the rally. 

It was the first-ever motor sport event held in this part of the world and held as part of the six-week Jeddah 22 Summer festival, which ends in the next few days.The crowning of the first motor sport event here as the champion of champions was a glorious moment for Roger Feghali, who has also been the Rally of Lebanon champion for the last four years.

Adding to his excitement was that his brother Abdo had won the Race of Masters on the first day of the event on Thursday. It was a hard and exciting challenge between Roger Feghali and Omani champion Hamad Al-Wahaibi, the driver of all Arabs in the world of rally championships. In their final lap Feghali clocked 148 seconds to win against the Omani driver’s 150.2 seconds. 

Competition tended to be tough on the second day with 10 Middle East rally champions qualified to take part through the first day. Those in the race were Mamdouh Khayyat, Abdo Feghali, Hamad ibn Eid Al-Thani, Roger Feghali, Nizar Alshinfari, Naser Saleh Alateyah, Hamad Al-Wahaibi, Maarouf Abu Samra, Abdullah Bakhashab and Jean-Pierre Nasrallah. They raced on the final day with Toyota Corolla WRC.

In the qualifying races on the first day, which was based on the best timing on two rounds, Lebanese driver Roger Feghali gained the best timing and Hamad Al-Wahaibi came second, followed by Naser Alateyah, Maarouf Abu Samra, Abdo Feghali, Abdullah Bakhashab and Nizar Alshinfari, respectively. They all qualified for the quarterfinals While Mamdouh Khayyat and Hamad ibn Eid Al-Thani were disqualified. In the quarterfinals that followed Roger Feghali defeated Maarouf Abu Samra, and Nizar defeated Naser Alateyah, Hamad Al-Wahaibi defeated Abdo Feghali after adding his best timing — as both recorded the best timing of 150.4 seconds in the first lap. Also, Jean-Pierre Nasrallah was declared the winner with Abdullah Bakhashab withdrawing. 

Four contestants qualified for the semifinals in which Roger Feghali and Hamad Al-wahaibi entered the finals by defeating respectively Jean-Pierre Nasrallah and Nizar Alshinfari.The final lap of the race was full of excitement as Roger Feghali managed to win.The Toyota Race of Champions winner received the championship cup from Derek Ledger, the Middle East representative of FIA at a ceremony at Hyatt Regency Hotel yesterday.

Ledger also presented awards to Hamad Al-Wahaibi, Jean-Pierre Nasrallah and Nizar Alshinfari, respectively the second, third and fourth winners.Abdullah Bakhashab, who headed the organizing team, said: “The first motor sport event in this part of the world was a great success in all respects.

We’re much more proud that the Kingdom has now been put on the motor sport map of the world.”Reflecting on his early withdrawal from the contest, Bakhashab said: “I apologize to my fans for my early withdrawal, but take comfort from the fact that the first-ever such event provided enjoyment to a large number of motor sport enthusiasts and their families, and also that it marked the launch of motor sport in the Kingdom.

”He thanked sponsors Abdul Latin Jameel Group, the exclusive agent of Toyota in the Kingdom, Denso Company and Binladen Woodwork Factory for sponsoring the event, and Hyatt Regency Hotel for hosting the champions and participants .