Muscat – The Oman Automobile Association (OAA) announced on Tuesday that 13 crews and competitors from 11 nations will compete in next week’s Oman International Rally, the opening round of the 2026 FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC).
There will also be a national status section for crews running at the rear of the field with four teams currently registered. Based in the city of Sohar for a second successive year on January 22nd-24th, the event again takes its slot as the season’s opener with rounds to follow in Qatar, Jordan, Lebanon, Cyprus and Saudi Arabia.
Nasser al Attiyah is the most successful driver in Middle East motor sporting history and the Qatari teams up with Spanish co-driver Candido Carrera at the head of the field, as he bids to start his campaign for a 21st regional rally title and a record-breaking ninth win in the Sultanate of Oman. Al Attiyah again wheels out a Škoda Fabia RS run by Autotek Motorsport.
His main rival will be the leading local driver and former regional champion Abdullah al Rawahi. Now recovered from an injury sustained on a national event in Lebanon last year, Al Rawahi teams up with Jordanian co-driver Ata al Hmoud and will be looking for a third victory on his home event in six years. He also drives a Škoda Fabia RS.
Further Rally 2 competition comes from the likes of Hamza Bakhashab, the son of the former regional champion Abdullah, with Irish co-driver Lorcan Moore in a Toyota GR Yaris and Qatari veteran and defending Master driver champion Nasser Khalifa al Atya with his team-mate Ziad Chehab.
There are additional Rally 2 entries for Jordan’s Sheikh Bader al Fayez (Škoda), Qatar’s Rashid al Muhannadi (Peugeot) and Ihab al Shorafa (Škoda).
Talented Qatari youngster Mohammed al Marri will be flying QMMF Team colours in Rally 4 with his Peugeot 208 against Indian racer Payyaakkal Panikkaveettil (Ford), while Lebanon’s Shadi al Fakih will be looking for success in Rally 5 with a Renault Clio.
The battle for Rally 2 honours should be fought out between local driver Zakariya al Aamri (Subaru) and Mitsubishi Lancers in the hands of Kuwaiti Jassim al Muqahwi and Jordan’s Shaker Jweihan. Defending champion Abdullah al Zubair is not competing.
Organised under the chairmanship of Brigadier Jamal Said al Tai, vice-chairman Suleiman al Rawahi, Rally Director Anwar al Zadjali and Clerk of the Course Hani Shaban, the event has invaluable support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Sohar Governorate office and Toyota Oman.
The official ceremonial start takes place at the Sohar Entertainment Centre on Thursday, January 22nd.
