Defending champion Yazeed Al Rajhi surged into a near 18-second lead after the opening timed 5-kms super special of the Ha’il International Rally, Saudi Arabia’s flagship FIA-sanctioned cross-country rally, which is taking place through the north-central region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the next four days.
Driving the powerful Hummer that Robbie Gordon used to such great effect in the gruelling Dakar Rally, Al Rajhi and new French co-driver Alex Winocq set an unofficial time of 3min 18sec to lead the event from Czech driver Miroslav Zapletal, also at the wheel of a Hummer with Polish co-driver Maciej Marton. Saudi Arabian driver Mtair Al Shammeri held third position with a time of 3min 38sec in his Toyota F Cruiser and Emirati Yayha Al Helai was fourth overall in a Nissan. Thirty-four cars began the day’s timed stage.
The first of four desert selective sections (256km) gets underway on Monday and the competitive action finishes on Thursday with the finishing ceremony rounding off proceedings at 19.00hrs.