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HAIL: Overdrive Racing’s Yazeed Al-Rajhi followed up his recent Dakar Rally victory with an eighth career success in the Hail Toyota International Rally (Saudi Baja) on Saturday.

The Toyota Hilux driver won the event five times in its longer format before 2020 and since then has won in 2022, 2024 and 2025. His German co-driver Timo Gottschalk won the longer rally with Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah in 2011 and has now taken won with Al-Rajhi in 2015, 2016, 2024 and 2025. The duo lead the 2025 FIA World Baja Cup after the opening round.

Argentina’s Juan Cruz Yacopini and his Spanish co-driver Dani Oliveras kept the pressure on Al-Rajhi for long periods of the three-day event on a new route through the north-central deserts of Saudi Arabia, eventually finishing second in their Toyota Hilux, 5 minutes 49 seconds behind the Dakar winner.

Dania Akeel and Stephane Duple — hoping to defend Akeel’s 2024 FIA Middle East Baja Cup title — finished third to give Overdrive Racing a clean sweep of the podium places.

A prologue of 5.76km determined the start order for the opening special stage over a new route through the An-Nafud desert. Al-Rajhi set the pace with a run of 3:56, beating Khalifa Saleh Al-Attiyah by eight seconds. Yacopini and Akeel came fourth and sixth respectively.

Al-Rajhi started the opening 260km from ninth on the road and made his favorable starting position count with the fastest time. The Saudi beat Yacopini by 1:35 to take the lead with Akeel in third, 3:48 adrift.

There was no late drama for Al-Rajhi, who won the final 160km stage by 4:14 to secure victory.

The 2025 FIA World Baja Cup continues with the Jordan Baja in Aqaba on April 10.

2025 Saudi Baja unofficial result:

Yazeed Al-Rajhi (SAU)/Timo Gottschalk (DEU) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 4:28:15*

Juan Cruz Yacopini (ARG)/Daniel Oliveras (ESP) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 4:34:04*

Dania Akeel (SAU)/Stephane Duple (FRA) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 4:38:26+

Khalifa Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Dmytro Tsyro (UKR) Taurus T3 Max 4:39:51+

Saleh Al-Saif (SAU)/Alexander Toril (ESP) G Rally Team OT3 4:45:12+

Ahmed Al-Kuwari (QAT)/Augusto Sanz (ARG) Taurus T3 Max 4:46:17+

Miroslav Zapletal (CZE)/Michal Goleniewski (POL) Ford F-150 4:53:28*

Hamza Bakhashab (SAU)/Marcin Pasek (POL) Can-Am Maverick R 4:54:21+

Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari (QAT)/Nasser Al-Kuwari (QAT) Taurus T3 Max 4:56:25+

Sergei Remennik (ARE)/Aleksei Ignatov (KGZ) Taurus T3 Max 4:58:28*

* registered for FIA World Cup

+ registered for FIA Middle East Cup

HAIL: The 20th edition of the Hail Toyota International Rally 2025 got underway on Thursday with a ceremonial start in Hail City.

Hail Region Gov. Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad bin Abdulaziz, alongside Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdullah bin Faisal, chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, flagged off the competitors at Al-Maghwah Amusement Park, marking the official launch of the rally.

The competition proper begins on Friday morning, featuring more than 116 vehicles across multiple categories.

The car category alone includes 77 competitors, with 32 local participants competing in the Saudi Toyota Championship, 38 international drivers and seven contenders in the Legends category. Additionally, 39 competitors will take on the demanding terrain in the motorcycle category, including six in the quads division.

The rally’s challenging course cuts across a variety of terrains, including the vast Nafud Al-Kabir desert, renowned for its towering sand dunes, rugged trails and striking landscapes.

Several leading drivers and riders attended the official pre-event press conference on Thursday, including Saudi rally champion Yazeed Al-Rajhi, fresh off his Dakar Rally 2025 victory, alongside Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah, Saudi drivers Dania Akeel and Saleh Al-Saif, among other top competitors.

A special Legends of Rally press conference was also held, where Prince Khalid bin Sultan announced his return to competitive racing after 18 years.

“My competition with champion Abdullah Bakhashab will be fierce, and I hope to deliver a performance worthy of the fans’ expectations, even though I am participating as an honorary competitor,” he said.

Bakhashab, in response, said: “I will do whatever it takes to secure victory and showcase my extensive experience against Prince Khalid. I’m prepared for all scenarios — winning is my goal.”

Omani rally driver Hamad Al-Wahaibi expressed his enthusiasm at taking part. “I’m thrilled to be in Hail and competing in this race, which brings together legends — some of whom I’ve faced in past events,” he said.

Saudi rally driver Ahmed Al-Sabban echoed similar sentiments: “This will be an incredible race with an elite lineup. The Hail Rally holds some of my best career memories, and I’m fully prepared.”

Hail native Farhan Al-Shammari, who won the inaugural Hail Rally 20 years ago, is eager to reclaim the title: “Racing on my home turf, in front of my fans, is a great honor. I will give my all to win the title again, two decades after my first victory.”

Four-time Hail Rally champion Issa Al-Dosari also promised a thrilling competition. “We are ready to deliver an exciting race for fans. This is a legendary event, and we are determined to put on a show worth watching,” he said.

The Hail Toyota International Rally 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the event and holds significant importance on the global motorsport calendar.

It serves as the opening round of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, as well as the inaugural round of the FIA Middle East Baja Cup. Additionally, it launches the Saudi Toyota Desert Rally Championship and marks the first round of the Cross-Country Bajas World Cup for motorcycles.