'Haram. Haram. Haram!' — Riyadh Air CEO slams lack of direct flights from Saudi Arabia to major global cities    Honda-Nissan multi-billion dollar merger collapses    Hamas says it will release Israeli hostages as planned    Hegseth rules out NATO membership for Ukraine    Alleged Russian money launderer being released in exchange for Marc Fogel    US federal agencies begin mass firings    Saudi, French FMs discuss regional situation    Saudi, UAE economy ministers discuss enhancing cooperation    Saudi-US Roundtable discusses partnership opportunities in aviation industry    Saudi Arabia ranks 4th and Riyadh 3rd globally in digital services    Saudi Air Force to participate in Cobra Warrior 25-1 exercise in UK    Saudi Arabia assumes presidency of GlobeE anti-corruption network    Maya Diab joins Arab stars and celebrities in celebrating the Centrepoint Ramadan 2025 collection launch at Riyadh Boulevard    Oilatum tackles rise in Eczema and Dry Skin in Saudi Arabia    HONOR brings together AI and luxury with PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic7 RSR at LEAP 2025    Eagles win Super Bowl LIX to end the Chiefs' dream of a three-peat    Chinese film stirs national pride, rakes in $1bn in days    Sharifa Al-Sudairi makes historic debut at Asian Winter Games    Ivan Toney's brace secures Al Ahli victory over Al Fateh in Saudi Pro League    Al Nassr reclaims third place with 3-0 victory over Al Fayha as Jhon Durán shines    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Hail Desert Challenge set to roll today
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 21 - 03 - 2012

The 2012 Saudi Arabia Hail Desert Challenge gets underway at the Maghwat Conference Centre in Ha'il Wednesday with the ceremonial start and short timed super special stage. The bulk of Saudi's premier desert off-road rally will then take place Thursday and Friday in the An-Nafud desert region.
Formerly known as the Ha'il Baja, the event is running under the patronage of Prince Saud Bin Abdul Mohsen Bin Abdul Aziz, Governor of Ha'il, President of the Supreme Commission for Ha'il Development and the Head of the Supreme Commission of the Ha'il Rally and the presidency of Prince Sultan Bin Bandar Al-Faisal.
Top local rally star Yazeed Al-Rajhi leads the impressive entry in a Mini All4 Racing, built by the German X-raid Team. He will be co-driven by Portugal's Filipe Palmeiro, a regular competitor with X-raid in past cross-country events including the Dakar Rally.
Main international competition is likely to come from the French driver Thierry Magnaldi at the wheel of a Toyota Team Saudi Arabia FJ Cruiser – run by 1995 regional rally champion Abdullah Bakhashab's Jeddah team – and co-driven by the experienced former Mitsubishi and Volkswagen factory navigator Lucas Cruz Senra.
The UAE's Yayha Al-Helai will be aiming for a podium finish when the event draws to a conclusion at the Maghwat Conference Centre Friday. Yayha is a veteran of numerous Desert Challenge top five finishes in the remote UAE Rub Al-Khali desert. The 4x4 enthusiast teams up with co-driver Khalid Al-Kendi, who arrives in Saudi Arabia directly from taking part in an IRC rally with Rashid Al-Ketbi on the Atlantic island of Gran Canaria. Matar Al-Mansoori and Yasser Bin Hamed also represent the UAE at the wheel of a pair of Nissan Patrols. Saleh Al-Saleh drives the second of the Toyota Team Saudi Arabia Toyotas, while other local front-runners Mfadi Al-Shammeri (Toyota), Majid Al-Shammeri (Toyota), Ibrahim Al-Muhana (Nissan) and Rajih Al-Shammeri (Toyota) will be aiming for the podium. Farhan Al-Ghaleb, meanwhile, drives a Desert Knights-entered Nissan with Omani co-driver Abdullah Al-Tawaian.
Dubai-based Briton David Mabbs finished a stunning second overall behind Qatar's Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah in last November's Sealine Qatar Baja, a candidate event for this year's new round of the FIA World Cup, and he has entered the Saudi event in his trusty Toyota FJ Cruiser, along with regular French co-driver Xavier Caminada.
Other drivers to grace the entry list include Abdullah Bin Saeed Hamden, Omar Al-Lahim, Ahmed Al-Shaqawi, Yasser Al-Saidan, Metab Saud Al-Shammeri, Khalid Al-Hamami, Saleh Yousef Suhail Ali, Saleh Al-Saloom, Tariq Al-Rammah, Fayez Al-Shammeri, Ahmed Al-Qashami, Safah Al-Saeedi, Saleh Al-Hout, Farhan Abdullah Al-Shammeri, Khalaf Saleh Al-Shammeri and Matar Al-Shammeri in a variety of Nissans and Toyotas. Al-Attiyah and French co-driver Matthieu Baumel won the first FIA Baja championship event in 2008 and Baumel teamed up with Al-Rajhi to win the non-championship Baja the following year. The pair won a second successive Baja in a Mitsubishi Racing Lancer in 2010 but Al-Attiyah returned last year with German co-driver Timo Gottschalk to take an emphatic one-sided victory in a factory Volkswagen Race Touareg.


Clic here to read the story from its source.