The two Overdrive Racing Toyota Hiluxes dominated Qassim Rally Toyota, the penultimate round of the 2025 Saudi Rally Championship.
Defending Dakar champions, Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk, are making their way back to full match fitness after injuries sustained in Jordan in April, and this event marked the Yazeed Racing duo’s first victory since that accident in Wadi Rum.
Al-Rajhi won the short four-kilometre Prologue stage on Thursday, opened up a lead of 8min 23sec after the long opening 274km selective section on Friday and then confirmed victory with the third quickest time on the final 113km stage. His winning margin was 6min 12sec.
Al-Rajhi said: « We are very happy to take this win. We did it well to win the Baja Qassim. Timo did a great job, like always, and that’s the most important. Now we lead the championship with one round to go in one month’s time. »
Dania Akeel teamed up with the experienced French navigator Sébastien Delaunay in the second of the Overdrive Toyotas. She was third on the Prologue and moved into second place on the opening stage. A stunning stage victory this morning confirmed second place for Akeel before she heads to Qatar next week to try and push for this year’s FIA Middle East Baja Cup title.
This round of the 2025 Saudi Toyota Championship was organised by the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) and attracted a field of 41 cars, 14 motorcycles and five quads.
The 2025 Saudi Toyota Championship concludes with Jeddah Rally Toyota on December 4th-6th.