All conditions seem ripe for the distinguished driver Elias Dahni to ascend to the podium and secure first place in the front-wheel drive category at the 11th Jezzine Rally, organized by the Lebanese Automobile and Touring Club on Sunday, the 18th, on asphalt roads in the Jezzine region. Dahni is an experienced and talented driver who has been involved in motorsport for several years, specifically since 2015, and has established himself as a cornerstone of motorsport in Lebanon. He possesses excellent driving skills and a powerful car, the "Citroën DS 3 R3 Max," alongside competing in his hometown, being a native of Janzanay in the Jezzine district of Southern Lebanon.
Dahni also has a co-driver, Amin Aql, with whom he has formed a successful duo and has been competing in rallies together for the past three years. Dahni is defending the three titles he won last year: the Middle East Rally Championship for front-wheel drive, the Lebanon Rally Championship in the same category, and the Lebanon Hill Climb Championship for the third consecutive year.
Dahni managed to move past the recent Spring Rally after being eliminated in the second special stage due to a mechanical failure of his car. Undeterred, he displayed sportsmanship and began planning to reach the podium, aiming for first place in the Jezzine Rally to compensate for his exit from the first round of the Lebanon Rally Championship for 2023, which was the Spring Rally.
Before the rally, Dahni conducted trials on his car to familiarize himself with it and is now ready, along with his co-driver, to compete in the Jezzine Rally, which gains elegance and beauty on all fronts and witnesses a large public turnout, especially from the residents of the Jezzine district who will support Dahni, a local from Jezzine.
Dahni states, "My goal is to retain my titles in the Middle East and Lebanon Rally Championships and the Lebanon Hill Climb Championship in the front-wheel drive category, and I would like to thank the main sponsor GITI TIRES and 'Hatiko,' represented by businessman Mohammad Ajaj."
Dahni (in his twenties) and his co-driver Aql are part of the "IMT Rally Team," overseen by former Lebanese Rally Champion driver Domet Bou Domet. The team also includes driver Paul Qasifi and co-driver Rowaad Issa in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, driver Albir Hayek and co-driver Louay Saqr in a Renault Clio RS, driver Joanna Hassoun and co-driver Frans Said in a Renault Clio RS, and driver Sami Duh and co-driver Wissam Duh in a Peugeot 206.
It is noteworthy that Dahni participated last year in his first external race, the 57th edition of the famous French international rally "Antibes Côte d'Azur."
