Latest news with #JordanBaja
Straits Times
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Rallying-Dakar Rally champion Al-Rajhi eyes September return after accident
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox 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 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." Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore NDP celebrations to be held at 5 heartland sites, including Bishan and Punggol, on Aug 10 Singapore Keep citizens at the centre of public service, Chan Chun Sing tells civil servants Singapore Man arrested for allegedly throwing bottle at SMRT bus, injuring passenger Asia As Trump plays tariffs hard ball, Asean has little choice but to play on Asia PM Anwar called out by his own lawmakers as Malaysia's judicial crisis heats up Singapore SIA flight from Brisbane to Singapore diverted to Perth due to technical issue Sport Speeding likely cause of Diogo Jota car crash: Police Business Great Eastern could resume trading after delisting vote fails to pass; OCBC's exit offer lapses 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. REUTERS
Jordan Times
19-02-2025
- Automotive
- Jordan Times
Jordan Motorsport announces Jordan Baja to run in mid-April
Competitors in stunning Wadi Rum at the 2024 Jordan Baja (Jordan Motorsport photos) AMMAN — Jordan Motorsport has announced details of the Jordan Baja, the second round of this year's FIA World and Middle East Baja Cups and round three of the FIM Bajas World Cup. The event has switched from a November date and will be based out of the Red Sea city of Aqaba on April 10th-12th. A round of the premier FIA off-road series since 2019 and the FIM championship since 2021, the event runs for three days and utilises terrain with the backdrop of some of the most spectacular desert vistas on the planet. After a short Prologue stage on April 10th to determine the starting order for the opening selective section, competitors will attend the traditional ceremonial start procedure at the Arab Revolt Plaza on the outskirts of southern Aqaba from 17.15hrs. Competitive action then switches to the awe-inspiring Wadi Rum region in southern Jordan for a first stage of 334.13km on April 11th. This will be split into two timed sections of 200.60km and 133.53km. The Hashemite Kingdom's premier off-road event will then use a shorter stage of 185.30km on April 12th before the return to Aqaba for the ceremonial finish, prize giving and post-event press conference at the Arab Revolt Plaza from 17.30hrs. In a total route of 749.30km, 522.43km will be timed against the clock in a challenging route laid on by Jordan Motorsport under Zaid Balqez, the chairman of the Organising Committee, Clerk of the Course Khaled Zakaria and their experienced organising team. George Khoury will act as clerk of the course for the FIM event. 'We are pleased to be holding the Baja earlier in the season, where the weather will be slightly more consistent and competitors are just starting out on their programme of events for 2025,' said Zaid Balqez. 'Southern Jordan offers stunning terrain and a sensational back drop for our regional and international competitors. Many of the visual images from the event have already become iconic in cross-country motorsport and we are sure that this year's Baja will build upon the successes of the last few years.' The 2025 Jordan Baja will be based at the Westin Saraya Aqaba Resort and Spa for the first time. Entries are now open with the closing date set for Wednesday, March 26th. Emirati driver Khalid Al Jafla teamed up with Andrei Rudnitski to claim a maiden victory in Jordan last November and he also secured maximum points in the competitive Challenger category with his Taurus T3 Max. That win in the FIA category followed previous successes for Poland's Jakub Przygonski (Mini) and the Saudi Arabian duo of Yasir Seaidan (Mini) and Saleh Al Saif (Can-Am) in 2019, 2021 and 2022. The UAE's Mohammed Al Balooshi has been the man to beat on two wheels since 2019 and earned a fourth win last November on his KTM 450 Rally on his way to the FIM Bajas World Cup title. Saudi riders have dominated the quad category since its inception in 2021 with Faisal Al Suwayh, Abdulmajeed Al Khulaifi and Abdulaziz Al Shayban claiming a win apiece on their Yamahas.
