Neil Perkins HA'IL — Defending champion Yazeed Al-Rajhi tops the provisional 35-car entry for the Ha'il International Rally, the Kingdom's flagship FIA-sanctioned cross-country rally, which will run for nearly 1,000 competitive kilometers through the north-central region of the Kingdom from March 24-28. Al-Rajhi, who travels to the event straight after competing the Kuwait International Rally, has taken charge of a powerful Hummer from Robbie Gordon's team in the United States of America and teams up with the experienced Portuguese co-driver Filipe Palmeiro, as he attempts to win the event for the fourth time in five years. Czech driver Miroslav Zapletal, the former winner of the Baja GB and Baja Hungary, drives a second Hummer and is partnered by Poland's Maciej Marton. “The car reached Saudi Arabia last week and we have been making our final preparations since then,” enthused Al-Rajhi. “I am in Kuwait now for the round of the Middle East Rally Championship, but I am looking forward to trying to win my home event again, especially now the rally has a longer and different format.” The Saudi Isuzu Team fields two D-Max cars for Sami Al-Shammeri and Abdulaziz Al-Yaeesh under the team management of Abdulrahman Aharaki and the Toyota Saudi Rally Team returns to the fold with a Toyota FJ Cruiser for Mutair Al-Shammeri and a second Toyota FJ Cruiser Racer for Saleh Al-Saleh. A plethora of Saudi drivers in a range of Toyotas and Nissans fill the middle reaches of the entry list, with Ha'il regular and previous winner Rajih Al-Shammeri wheeling out a Nissan Patrol and Ahmed Al-Shaqawi entering a similar car under the Race World Team banner. Event regulars Ibrahim Al-Muhana, Mfadi Al-Shammeri and Farhan Al-Shammeri return to Ha'il action. The UAE is well represented with the experienced Desert Challenge campaigner Yayha Al-Helai taking the start with Khalid Al-Kendi in a Nissan and Matar Al-Mansoori joining Oman's Ahmed Al-Hajri in a similar car. Emirati Nooh Bin Hmaid drives a third Nissan, while Qatar's Sheikh Hamed Bin Eid Al-Thani has also registered for the event with co-driver Allou Firas in a Nissan Patrol. Ten quad entrants and six motorcycles will tackle the event for the first time since its inauguration in 2006. Saudi Arabia's Moaataz Al-Jraih tops the quad entry, but the pre-event favorite could well be the UAE's talented Atif Al-Zarouni, a regular competitor in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and the Sealine Cross-Country Rally. Saudi riders fill the remainder of the quad field. Ibrahim Al-Saadoon tops the motorcycle contingent and faces competition from fellow Saudis Tarik Al-Batah, Abdulaziz Al-Hazlool, Mohammed Al-Naeem, Mohammed Ali and Ahmed Al-Nasser. The event is being staged 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. The SAMF runs under the chairmanship of Prince Sultan Bin Bandar Al-Faisal and the event is being organized in conjunction with the High Authority for the Development of Ha'il. Scrutineering and documentation will take place at the Maghwat Conference Centre Friday and Saturday and this will be followed by the pre-event press conference and a permitted period to carry out the reconnaissance of the super special stage Saturday afternoon. The ceremonial start and super special stage takes place Sunday. The first of four desert selective sections gets underway Monday (March 25) and the competitive action finishes on Thursday with the finishing ceremony rounding off proceedings at 7 p.m.
