Saudi youth Mishal bin Naif Al-Shalwi, the owner of the famous video that went viral on social media, made his first appearance after successfully overtaking a driver in the Dakar Rally 2022, despite driving a 2015 Nissan van. In his first appearance, he expressed his happiness and greeted his fans in a video shared on social media. The 24-year-old Mishal hoped to participate in the Dakar Rally but couldn't due to his limited resources. However, a chance encounter he was unprepared for led him to challenge Belgian driver Pascal Ferrin as he passed near his home south of Taif, ultimately defeating him in the desert.
In a statement to "Al Arabiya.net," he mentioned that he was driving his old vehicle at a speed of 110 km/h, navigating through sand dunes. After suddenly spotting the race camera filming him from a helicopter at Abu Raka center, his excitement surged, and he and his friend covered about half a kilometer in just two minutes. His friend Sahl Al-Shalwi encouraged him to keep going, even though his vehicle wasn't suited for competition. He asserted that if he had participated in the race, he would have claimed first place.
