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The Star
7 days ago
- The Star
Rallying-Dakar Rally champion Al-Rajhi eyes September return after accident
FILE PHOTO: Rallying - Dakar Rally - Stage 12 - Shubaytah to Shubaytah - Saudi Arabia - January 17, 2025 Overdrive Racing's Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk celebrate with Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, President of Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation after winning in the car category REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo (Reuters) -Saudi Arabia's Yazeed Al-Rajhi, the reigning Dakar Rally champion, aims to resume competitive racing by September following a serious accident in Jordan that left him with two broken vertebrae. Al-Rajhi, 43, became the first Saudi to win the Dakar Rally in January, completing the 12-stage race nearly four minutes ahead of South African rival Henk Lategan. The event, relocated to Saudi Arabia in 2020 after years in South America, originally followed a Europe-to-Africa route but shifted due to security concerns after 2007. "I am gradually recovering from the injury I sustained in Aqaba last April while participating in the Jordan Baja," Al-Rajhi told Reuters on Tuesday, referencing the accident that flipped his car during the rally. His co-driver, Germany's Timo Gottschalk, was also seriously injured. "I am following the treatment and rehabilitation program strictly under the supervision of a specialised medical team, amid high morale and great determination to return." Al-Rajhi, who competes for his own team Yazeed Racing, said he expects to return in September at Rally Portugal. "God willing, I anticipate resuming participation in competitions in the last quarter of the 2025 season," he added, noting his plans to rejoin the FIA World Baja Cup, FIA World Rally-Raid Championship, and Saudi Arabia's national championship. Reflecting on his Dakar Rally victory, Al-Rajhi said: "I'm very proud and happy with this title after we won in Dakar with a private team not belonging to a factory for the first time in more than 25 years." He described the achievement as a "major turning point in the history of motorsport." Saudi Arabia has made significant investments in motorsports under its Vision 2030 initiative, hosting events like Formula One, Formula E, Extreme E, and desert rally championships. "Today, the Kingdom has become an international centre for motorsports, supported by advanced infrastructure and ambitious national cadres," Al-Rajhi said. Looking ahead, Al-Rajhi sees growing interest in motorsports across the Arab world, including Qatar's hosting of Formula One and MotoGP, alongside Bahrain and the UAE's Formula One Grand Prix events. However, he stressed the need for an "integrated qualification system" to develop professional drivers in the region. Internationally, Al-Rajhi believes that Saudi Arabia and the Arab region "will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of motorsports, not only as hosts, but as real competitors for championships through teams and champions who carry the flags of their countries and achieve great things at the highest levels." Saudi Arabia has signalled ambitions to own a Formula One team, following its sponsorship of the sport and hosting its first F1 race in 2021. Energy giant Aramco remains a global partner of Formula One, while other Middle Eastern nations have strengthened ties to the sport through investments in teams such as McLaren, Audi, and others. (Reporting by Ashraf Hamed AttaEditing by Toby Davis)
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- New Straits Times
JDT register second win in Spain
KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) goal machine Bergson Da Silva proved his scoring prowess again by netting the winner in the 1-0 triumph over Spanish club Costa City in their pre-season tour yesterday. The goal from the Brazilian forward in the 68th minute was enough to secure a second consecutive win for the Southern Tigers, who are in a pre-season tour in Spain. The clash, held at Estadi Olimpic Camilo Cano, served as a testing ground for Xisco Munoz's men to gauge their strength after previously thrashing Real Murcia Imperial 4-0. Bergson also got his name on the scoresheet against Real Marcia, bringing his total to two goals so far in the team's pre-season in Spain. This victory is a boost for the 11-time consecutive Super League champions ahead of their next match against Cardiff City on Thursday. JDT will face two more Spanish clubs, Levante UD on July 12 and Valencia Mestalla on July 14, both expected to be held at venues around Alicante. Their pre-season continues with tougher challenges as JDT are slated to face three clubs from the Arab region - Al Rayyan SC (July 16) and Al Arabi SC (July 19) from Qatar, as well as Riyadh FC from Saudi Arabia on July 21. JDT's new coach, Xisco Munoz, is expected to give the team's new players opportunities to adapt to his playing style. This pre-season tour is an important platform for JDT to build momentum ahead of the M-League, AFC Champions League (ACLE), and the Asean Club Championship for the 2025-2026 season. With new players like Jairo Da Silva, Hector Hevel, and Antonio Glauder gelling well, the Southern Tigers fans surely have high hopes of seeing their team continue to dominate domestically, and shine on the Asian stage.
The Star
06-07-2025
- The Star
Motor racing-FIA head Ben Sulayem laughs off 'reign of terror' jibe
FILE PHOTO: FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem addresses delegates during the FIA General Assembly at the Kigali Convention Center, in Kigali, Rwanda December 13, 2024. REUTERS/Jean Bizimana/File Photo SILVERSTONE, England (Reuters) -FIA head Mohammed Ben Sulayem laughed off talk of a 'reign of terror' inside motorsport's world governing body and promised on Sunday the coming presidential election would be fair and transparent. The Emirati is seeking a second term in December after being first elected in 2021, with American Tim Mayer the sole declared opponent. Mayer announced his candidacy on Friday ahead of the British Formula One Grand Prix at Silverstone, telling a press conference he saw a "failure in leadership" at the FIA. "Those people work very hard. They deserve leadership that provides them with tools, with a vision, with resources and more than anything else does not have a reign of terror every time they walk into the office," Mayer said. Ben Sulayem found the assertion ridiculous. "I just laughed. I actually had a smile. I said whoever is saying this, they are disconnected with the FIA. Honestly," he told Reuters. "You go to the FIA and just enter and see. Sit with them, tell them it's just between you and them, and ask them the question. I think maybe he's confusing the period," he added. The FIA headquarters in Paris is on the Place de la Concorde, where from 1793-94 public executions by guillotine were carried out during the French revolutionary 'Reign of Terror'. There has been a high turnover of senior staff since Ben Sulayem took office, including former Deputy President for Sport Robert Reid who resigned in April. "Decisions are being made behind closed doors, bypassing the very structures and people the FIA exists to represent," Reid said then. Ben Sulayem, whose reign so far has featured a number of controversies including statute changes that opponents say make it harder for rivals to stand against him, defended his record. "Have you ever read any article where I said negatively about a single person? That's not me," he said. Reminded he had told Reuters in May that he had "cleaned up the FIA house" and rid it of enemies who wanted to stab him in the back, Ben Sulayem smiled: "It's not because they don't want to stab me, it's because there's no space left. "Truly numbers do not lie... they (the members) are happier, they can see that the money is invested back in. And in everything there is governance." Of the election, the former rally driver said he was prepared. "It's like putting your helmet and gloves back on. Really it reminds me of competitions, and competition is always good," he added. "We have such clear guidelines that now you cannot fiddle around with anything and that will never happen, not in my reign." Mayer, 59, is the son of former McLaren team principal Teddy Mayer and has previously served as a voluntary steward and FIA commission member and national association representative for the United States. He was also senior vice-president of racing operations at IndyCar/Champ Car from 1998-2003 and COO of the IMSA and American Le Mans sportscar Series from 2004-2009. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Christian Radnedge)
