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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.

MILAN: England defender Kyle Walker could be forgiven for having some regrets over leaving Manchester City for AC Milan.
Especially after seeing close up how his new team are performing, with even Milan coach Sérgio Conceição saying his players are lacking “footballing basics.”
Walker joined Milan last week on loan, with the option to make the move permanent at the end of the season.
He watched Milan’s rollercoaster win over lowly Parma from the stands at San Siro last weekend. The Rossoneri were trailing 2-1 in injury time before two stoppage-time goals.
Walker, who was cup tied, was also just an observer on Wednesday for Milan’s Champions League match at Dinamo Zagreb, where the 10-man Rossoneri lost 2-1.
But Walker, who won six Premier League titles and the Champions League in seven seasons at City, insists he hasn’t had any second thoughts — even when Milan were 2-0 down at home to Parma.

“Definitely not. It’s football. Things happen in football,” he said. “But by the end of the game, we won 3-2. And that’s what the main things is. We got the victory that we wanted, that we needed. This is a step in the right direction.”
Possible debut in Milan derby
Man City’s long-serving right back left the Premier League club to get more playing time and explore a move abroad. Walker will likely get a baptism of fire on Sunday if, as expected, he makes his debut in the Serie A derby against fierce rival Inter Milan.
Defending champion Inter are second in Serie A, three points behind Napoli and with a game in hand. AC Milan also have a game in hand, but is 19 points behind Napoli.
Milan have won both derby matches this season, however; in the league in September and the Super Cup final this month.
“I’m expecting an exciting match. They’ll be looking for revenge after the Super Cup,” Walker said.
“This is where the character, the mentality comes in, that this is our crown now and we need to make sure we go to that game fully committed. Not just for ourselves and for the league table position but also for the fans as well.”
Walker won 15 major trophies at City after joining from Tottenham in 2017 and established himself as one of the best right backs in Premier League history.
At Milan, he finds himself in a team that are clearly lacking in confidence and leadership.
That is what the 34-year-old Walker has been brough in to help resolve.
“It’s what I have to do. At my age, from my experience, I can pass on that to the younger players,” Walker said. “But also I can’t do it alone.
“And I have seen that there is leaders but maybe the confidence is a little bit low. The rhythm is win game lose game, have a bad performance have a good performance. And you need a level of consistency.”
Conceição’s emotions encouraged
Milan are already on their second coach of the season, after Conceição replaced Paulo Fonseca at the end of last year.
Like Fonseca and previous coach Stefano Pioli, Conceição has criticized his players for their lack of determination and mentality, something he has been struggling to remedy as he strives to instil into AC Milan the same values he had as a player: Courage, combativeness and a hunger to win.
Conceição dropped to his knees and screamed after the late winner against Parma, before having to be restrained after the final whistle during a heated exchange with Milan captain Davide Calabria.
“I feel that from what I’ve been listening to over the last few days he (Conceição) has got a good idea, he’s got a good foundation that he wants to build this club on. And I think it’s needed,” Walker said.
“Sometimes there needs to be discipline, sometimes there needs to be that fire and emotion coming from the body because it projects onto the players. And recently the players have lacked a bit of that.”