Nissans dominate entry list for Saudi Arabia’s Rally Jeddah

Nissans dominate the entry list for Saudi Arabia’s Rally Jeddah, which takes place to a revised format in the Kingdom’s western deserts on November 17-18.
With several days to go until the official entry list closes, a staggering 22 of the first 30 entrants will drive cars produced by the Japanese manufacturer, which has built up a formidable reputation in off-road rallying in the Middle East and beyond.
Qatari driver Adel Hussein Abdulla is currently awaiting the outcome of an FIA protest lodged by his TOK Sport team against a rival competitor to see if he has won the FIA T2
Championship category this season.
But the Doha driver is continuing his successful season nonetheless and drives a Nissan Patrol entered in the T2 category in Jeddah and carrying support from Nissan Middle East, Nissan Qatar and the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF). The Doha-based driver teams up with French navigator Sebastien Delaunay once again.
“The Jeddah Rally is one of the most important events in my schedule,” said Adel Hussein.
“I took part in the previous two editions sitting next to Ahmed al-Sabban. This is my first time in Jeddah as a driver though. It is a very interesting event. The way we deal with this event is different because there is different terrain, sandy and rocky stages, so variety.
“Spectators are enthusiastic here. There are a lot of them and the organisation is very good. Year-after-year it is getting better. I hope to win the T2 category, especially after the good results I achieved in this year’s FIA World Cup.”
Abu Dhabi-based Lebanese driver Emil Khneisser pushed Kazakhstan’s Denis Berezovskiy all the way in a frantic tussle for the FIA T2 title last year. Khneisser returns to action in Rally Jeddah after putting his career on hold for several months to watch his son participate in kart racing.
He teams up with Russian co-driver Alexei Kuzmich in a second Nissan Patrol supported by Nissan Middle East.
“Rally Jeddah is one of my favourite events, where I managed some previously good results” said Khneisser. Saudi drivers are very talented and highly competitive and the terrain and navigation are both technical. My aim is to use this opportunity to ensure my readiness to compete, not only against the cars in T2, but also those in T1, as I have one of the most capable SUVs. I would like to thank Nissan Middle East and Al-Masaood Automobiles for their continued support.”
Saudi Arabian driver Ibrahim al-Muhanna won the Ha’il International Rally outright in north-central Saudi Arabia with his Nissan Patrol and navigator Ali Obaid in 2014 and the determined Saudi will be hoping to top the Nissan contingent again in his T1 car.
Other Nissan Patrol drivers on the provisional list of entries for the two-day event - which is based at the Makarem Resort and takes place over a short super special stage on Thursday (November 17) and a 220km desert stage on Friday (November 18) – include Mohammed and Ahmed al-Malki, Ibrahim al-Salman, Ahmed al-Gashami and the Kuwaiti driver Salem al-Thafiri.
Saudi Arabians dominate the remainder of the entry: Mohamed al-Saeri, Nayaf al-Asheri, Yayha Halwe, Fares al-Shammeri, Mohamed al-Tuwaijri, Saleh al-Abdulali, last year’s Rally Jeddah T2 winner Monif al-Salmani, Rajah Farhan al-Shammeri, Motab Saud al-Shammeri, Khaled al-Shammeri, Sami al-Shammeri and Mothna al-Shammeri, Khaled al-Sadoon and Fahad al-Abdulatif complete the massive Nissan armada of Patrols and Pathfinders that are about to descend upon Jeddah to challenge for honours in the candidate event for the 2017 Gulf Challenge.
Rally Jeddah is being organised by the Jeddah Government and Abdullah S. Bakhashab Establishment under the supervision of the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation (SAMF) and the patronage of  Prince Mishaal bin Majid bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, Governor of Jeddah and head of Rally Jeddah’s higher organising committee.