Muscat: Omani rally drivers Abdullah al Rawahi, Zakaria al Amri, and Abdullah al Zubair are gearing up for the second round of the Middle East Rally Championship (MERC), set to take place this weekend in Qatar.
Following the opening round in Sohar, which was won by Qatar’s Nasser al Attiyah, Al Rawahi currently sits in eighth place in the overall standings. Meanwhile, Al Zubair leads the MERC2 category with 30 points, while Al Amri holds 24 points.
After an early withdrawal on the first day of the Sohar rally, Al Rawahi is determined to make a strong comeback in Qatar. He managed to rejoin the competition on the second day through the Super Rally system, setting the fastest time in four of the six stages.
Al Amri also faced mechanical issues during the opening round, particularly with his car’s turbo system. Looking ahead to the Qatar Rally, he expressed confidence in his preparation.
“We are well aware of the Qatar Rally and its stages. There are some differences and navigation challenges, but our goal is to win our category and head into the third round in Saudi Arabia as leaders. I have an experienced navigator, Mohammed al Mazroui, and we have competed together in many races. We appreciate the support from everyone in this championship,” Al Amri said.
Al Rawahi acknowledged the challenges he faced in the first round and emphasized the difficulty of competing against local drivers in Qatar.
“For us, the Qatar Rally is more challenging compared to the local drivers, who are already familiar with the terrain. Competitors like Nasser al Attiyah have a better understanding of the stages, so it’s important to take careful notes,” he explained.
He also called for organizers to ensure fair conditions across all stages. “Last year, we finished third in Qatar, and we are aiming for an even better result this time,” Al Rawahi added.
The Qatar Rally promises intense competition as the Omani drivers look to improve their standings and gain momentum heading into the next round in Saudi Arabia.
