Oman International Rally

The Oman International Rally (known originally as the Rally Oman, is an international rallying event held to the south and south-east of the Omani capital of Muscat.[1] The rally is run by the Oman Automobile Association.

The rally, first held in 1979, held on gravel roads and sand for the most part, has consistently been part of the Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) and the Gulf Rally Challenge that preceded it, as well as being a mainstay of the Oman Rally Championship. The first two events were won by Swedish driver Harry Källström before Qatari driver Saeed Al-Hajri became the first Arabian driver to win in 1981. After the rallies most recent interruption it was re-introduced as a round of the Omani championship in 2013 with MERC candidate status following in 2014. The rally rejoined the MERC officially in 2015.

Emirati driver Mohammed Ben Sulayem is the most successful driver in the events history having won the event six times between 1986 and 1998. Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah won four consecutive rallies from 2003 to 2006.

List of previous winners edit

List of winners sourced in part from:[2][3]

Year Winner Car
1979   Harry Källström Datsun 160J
1980   Harry Källström Datsun 160J
1981   Saeed Al-Hajri Opel Ascona
1982   Chris Walles Datsun 200SX
1983   Chris Walles Datsun 200SX
1984   Saeed Al-Hajri Porsche 911 SC
1985   Saeed Al-Hajri Porsche 911 SC
1986   Mohammed Ben Sulayem Toyota Celica TCT
1987   Mohammed Ben Sulayem Audi Quattro A2
1988   Björn Waldegård Toyota Celica GT-Four
1989 Not held
1990   Mohammed Ben Sulayem Toyota Celica GT-Four
1991   Mohammed Ben Sulayem Toyota Celica GT-Four
1992   Tony Georgiou Toyota Celica GT-Four
1993   Michel Saleh Toyota Celica GT-Four
1994   Mohammed Ben Sulayem Ford Escort RS Cosworth
1995
-
1997
Not held
1998   Mohammed Ben Sulayem Ford Escort WRC
1999
-
2003
Not held
2003   Nasser Al-Attiyah Mitsubishi Lancer RS Evo VII
2004   Nasser Al-Attiyah Subaru Impreza WRX STi
2005   Nasser Al-Attiyah Subaru Impreza WRX STi
2006   Nasser Al-Attiyah Subaru Impreza WRX STi
2007   Khalid Al-Qassimi Subaru Impreza WRX STi
2008
-
2012
Not held
2013   Abdullah Al-Qassimi Mitsubishi Lancer RS Evo IX
2014   Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari Ford Fiesta RRC

External links edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2015-05-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ "Motorsport Winners".
  3. ^ http://www.ewrc-results.com/events.php?id=813&nation=50