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The mean machines are set to pound dry wadi beds, steep hilly terrains, gorgeous sand dunes and narrow lanes in Muscat region for the next two days, leaving plumes of dust in the tracks and providing many unforgettable moments for the adventure-loving spectators.
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 The Oman International Rally (OIR), will test the skills and perseverance of 24 drivers over a 700-kilometre course, which is considered as one of the trickiest tracks in the region. Little wonder, then, that the OIR, which was first staged in 1979, used to attract the who’s who of rallying till the Oman Automobile Association (OAA) decided to pull the plug on the event in 2007 owing to financial constraints. The decision had dampened the spirits of rallyists in Oman, though they continued their participation in the less-competitive domestic circuit every year.
It took seven long years for the OAA to bring back smiles on the faces of rally enthusiasts, when it decided to resume the OIR in 2014. But this is no ordinary re-commencement. The association has raised the bar several notches up in its bid to host the Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) next year and eventually bring the prestigious World Rally Championship (WRC).
The decision came as a big relief for the competition-starved drivers in the Sultanate. So they didn’t think twice before entering the fray, despite facing severe financial crisis. “Love for rally runs deeper in our veins. That’s the reason for huge Omani participation in the OIR,” says defending Oman Rally champion Khalid Al Manji.
As many as 15 Omani teams will set the track on fire when the special stages begin today (Friday, October 31). They are up against some of the big-spending teams, but Omani drivers are unperturbed. “We have been living without an international rally for the last seven years. I am happy to see OIR’s return which will give huge exposure to the Omani drivers,” says Al Manji.
Al Manji, who will be spearheading the Omani challenge in his Mitsubishi Evo 8 with co-driver Saif Al Esri, doesn’t have any doubts about the intensity of the competition. “But we enjoy the home advantage.”
The seasoned campaigner, who had participated in the Oman International Rally in 2003, 2006 and 2007, believes the OIR track is the trickiest circuit in the region. “It has too much twists and turns, besides a long mountainous stretch. It makes strategic decision on tyre and suspension usage important.”
Al Manji hopes his previous experience will come handy this time. He managed a fourth-place finish in his debut in 2003, but luck deserted him in 2006 as he quit in the first day following a mechanical failure. His performance plummeted further in the next year and he could make a 16th-place finish in a field of 36 cars. However, Al Manji says his goal is to get a good result. “My aim is to give rally lovers in Oman something to cheer about.”
Aiming big
Experienced rally driver Khalid Soomar, who won Oman Rally in 2008, 2011 and 2013, too, believes that Omani drivers enjoy a home advantage. “We know the track conditions which will help us give the foreign drivers a run for their money. That is why I believe in achieving a podium finish,” he says.
The seasoned campaigner feels that drivers should set a careful strategy for the unique terrain. “Drivers have to negotiate tarmac and gravel surfaces, and they should devise a careful strategy in using tyres and changing suspension during the course,” says Soomar, who will use the services of his nephew Taha Soomar as co-driver in his Mitsubishi Evo 7.
Young Faisal Al Rashdi will begin the rally with confidence, thanks to his fourth-place finish at the Fujairah Rally in September this year. “I am confident that I can put up a good show against experienced drivers from abroad in the OIR. I am a bit nervous too as this is my first-ever international rally,” says Al Rashdi, whose main worry is to get a sponsor for his team. “My attempts to find a sponsor went in vain. However, I am lucky to get my father’s support to fulfil my dream.” Al Rashdi will drive Subaru Impreza, and will be assisted by Waleed Al Rashdi.
Other youngsters will utilise the opportunity to assess their standing in the regional level. Says Arif Al Kiyumi, who will drive Mitsubishi Evo 8 with co-driver Muadh Al Shukairi: “This is my first international rally and I will use this opportunity to find areas of improvement and assess my standing regionally.”
Zakariya Al Amri, Qasim Al Zadjali, Humaid Al Waili, Said Al Manji, Hamid Al Qashmi, Saif Al Harthy, Mazin Al Shaibani, Al Jarrah Al Touqi, Haitham Khalid Al Zadjali, Waleed Al Kharusi and Abdul Al Kamali are the other Omani drivers in the fray.
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