Rajhi and French co-driver Matthieu Baumel maintained their composure through the 187.70km third leg of the Saudi Hail Baja to record a sensational start-to-finish victory in their Nissan Navara on Thursday. Making his first-ever appearance on a Baja-type motor sport event, Al-Rajhi was the model of self-discipline over 500km of challenging Bedouin trails and off-piste tracks though the Al-Nafud Desert, north of Hail, in north-western Saudi Arabia. His Belgian Overdrive Racing team survived a pre-event engine scare to seal a straightforward victory and Al-Rajhi was able to add to the similar success he achieved in last November's inaugural Sharqia Rally in the Eastern Province. The event was held under the patronage of Prince Saud Bin Abdul Mohsen Bin Abdul Aziz, Governor of Hail, President of the High Commission for the Development of the Hail region and the Head of the Supreme Commission of the Hail Rally. Prince Saud also patronized the closing ceremony in the evening, awarding valuable prizes to the winners. The Dubai-based British crew of Mark Powell and Paul Richards finished 42m 44s behind the flying Saudi in their Honda-engined Buggy, the Briton recording his career-best finish on an international rally. The Czech crew of Miroslav Zapletal and Tomas Ourednicek secured the final podium place in their Mitsubishi Pajero and set the second fastest time on the day's selective section. The result meant that three nationalities and three manufacturers filled the podium spots. Local front-runner Rajeh Al-Shammeri had passed both Zapletal and Powell early in the day's stage before falling foul of electrical gremlins and Sami Al-Shammeri eventually claimed fourth overall. Twenty-six of the original 30 starters tackled the 187.70km final selective section, with the UAE's Abdullah Al-Herais and David Mabbs (blown engine) being joined on the retirement list by Saudi Arabia's Farhan Al-Ghaleb and Omar Al-Lahim. Al-Rajhi began the special at Qanna with a 25m 54s lead and passed the first virtual checkpoint in just over 28 minutes. Safeh Al-Saedi was delayed with mechanical problems for over 30 minutes and Zapletal overtook Powell, although the Briton was also coming under pressure from Rajeh Al-Shammari. Qatar's Sheikh Hamed Bin Eid Al-Thani was making a final day charge from 10th overall and was the third fastest driver through the early kilometres. Al-Rajhi reached the finish in a time of 2h 18m 10s and Zapletal shadowed Powell over the closing kilometers but was unable to improve on third overall. Rajeh Al-Shammari's brave challenge ended with electrical woes and this permitted Saudi drivers Sami Al-Shammari and Safeh Al-Saedi to complete the final top five. __
