In a festive atmosphere, the 45th International Lebanon Rally, organized by the Lebanese Automobile and Touring Club, kicked off for three days, concluding next Sunday. The opening exhibition stage took place on Friday evening at the club's headquarters in Keserwan, attended by a large crowd including the club's president, lawyer Eli Asaf, General Secretary Camille Aadeh, Treasurer lawyer Gilbert Meshihy, several board members, the head of the motorsport committee Imad Lahoud, race officials, and representatives from the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).
Before the exhibition stage, there were traditional displays of classic cars and thrilling drift shows. The rally is part of the fourth round of this year's Middle East Rally Championship, following rallies in Qatar, Oman, and Jordan, with a total distance of 634.43 km, including 195.34 km of special speed stages comprising 11 stages to be held on asphalt in Keserwan, Jbeil, Batroun, and Metn.
Notable participants include Qatari driver Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (last year's rally winner and two-time Lebanon rally champion) with co-driver Matheu Pommiel (Andorra), Lebanese driver Roger Feghali (15-time rally champion, a record) with co-driver Joseph Matar, Omani Abdullah Al-Rawahi with Jordanian co-driver Ata Hamoud, Kuwaiti Mishari Al-Dhafiri with Qatari co-driver Nasser Al-Kuwari, and Kuwaiti Youssef Al-Dhafiri with Lebanese co-driver Carlos Hanna. Lebanese participants also include Basel Abu Hamdan and co-driver Firas Elias, who placed second last year; Alex Feghali and co-driver Mark Haddad, who won Group N in the 2022 Lebanon Rally; and Elias Dahani and co-driver Amin Aql, who won the front-wheel drive category in 2022. Female drivers Ria Dagher with co-driver Ranya Hayek and Joanna Hassoun with co-driver Clara Janbar will also participate. The third navigator is Doulin Shlink alongside driver Charbel Shibli.
Prior to the rally's kickoff, the organizing club announced 29 participating cars after conducting technical inspections and administrative checks on Thursday evening. Below is the list of rally participants:
1. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (Qatar) and Matheu Pommiel (Andorra) on Volkswagen Polo GTI Rally
2. Roger Feghali (Lebanon) and Joseph Matar (Lebanon) on Volkswagen Polo GTI Rally
3. Abdullah Al-Rawahi (Oman) and Ata Hamoud (Jordan) on Skoda Fabia R5 Rally
4. Alex Feghali (Lebanon) and Mark Haddad (France) on Mitsubishi Lancer Evo
5. Basel Abu Hamdan (Lebanon) and Firas Elias (Lebanon) on Skoda Fabia Rally
6. Karl Rizk (Lebanon) and Karim Abu Elias (Lebanon) on Mitsubishi Lancer Evo
7. Rabi Ayoub (Lebanon) and George Nader (Lebanon) on Skoda Fabia Rally
8. Mishari Al-Dhafiri (Kuwait) and Nasser Al-Kuwari (Qatar) on Mitsubishi Lancer Evo
9. Shadi Faki (Lebanon) and Samer Sfier (Lebanon) on Mitsubishi Lancer Evo
10. Roderick Al-Rai (Lebanon) and Roni Abu Abdo (Lebanon) on Mitsubishi Lancer Evo
11. Paul Qusifi (Lebanon) and Rwad Issa (Lebanon) on Mitsubishi Lancer Evo
12. Tarek Younes (Lebanon) and Selim Jalilati (Lebanon) on Ford Fiesta R5 Rally
13. David Mzahr (Lebanon) and George Daibes (Lebanon) on Citroën DS 3
14. Elias Dahani (Lebanon) and Amin Aql (Lebanon) on Citroën DS 3
15. Charbel Shibli (Lebanon) and Doulin Shlink (Lebanon) on Mitsubishi Lancer Evo
16. Ahmad Khaled (Lebanon) and Joseph Kamid (Lebanon) on Mitsubishi Lancer Evo
17. Joseph Salim (Lebanon) and Sami Awwad (Lebanon) on Peugeot 208
18. Jason Wahba (Lebanon) and Andre Maḥna (Lebanon) on Skoda Fabia R2
19. Albir Haik (Lebanon) and Louay Saqr (Lebanon) on Renault Clio
20. Walid Shlink (Lebanon) and Andre Ashqouti (Lebanon) on Renault Clio
21. Youssef Al-Dhafiri (Kuwait) and Carlos Hanna (Lebanon) on Mitsubishi Lancer Evo
22. Raef Al-Muhtar (Lebanon) and Omar Mazkur (Lebanon) on Mitsubishi Lancer Evo
23. Tony Germanous (Lebanon) and Eli Maḥna (Lebanon) on Mitsubishi Lancer Evo
24. Nabil Qambaz (Lebanon) and Karim Qambaz (Lebanon) on Mitsubishi Lancer Evo
25. Rwad Al-Hashim (Lebanon) and Gary Koundakjian (Lebanon) on Mitsubishi Lancer Evo
26. Ria Dagher (Lebanon) and Ranya Hayek (Lebanon) on Mitsubishi Lancer Evo
27. Joanna Hassoun (Lebanon) and Clara Janbar (Lebanon) on Renault Clio
28. Sami Dou (Lebanon) and Wissam Dou (Lebanon) on Peugeot 206
29. George Shahwan (Lebanon) and Christopher Knldjian (Lebanon) on Suzuki Swift
On Saturday, the second part of the rally will commence with the first car launching at 7:30 AM from the Fouad Chehab Complex in Jounieh heading towards Jbeil and Amchit up to Monsef, according to the following program:
- Special Speed Stage 2, 14.63 km: Monsef - Sabil.
This stage starts from Monsef upwards towards Shikhan, Gharzouz, Bakha'az, Ma'ad, Ghalboun, Bajah, reaching Sabil. This road will be closed on Saturday from 7:04 to 10:04.
- Special Speed Stage 3, 21.40 km: Ain Ayyah - Deir Bella.
This stage starts from Ain Ayyah at the bridge going upwards to Kfarhie, Baqimi, Kfifoun, ascending to Majdel, Zkzouk, Taa Faris, Bziza, Shanta, reaching Deir Bella. This road will be closed on Saturday from 08:17 to 11:17.
- Special Speed Stage 4, 26.12 km: Sourat - Dahr Abi Yaghi.
This stage starts from the old Sourat intersection ascending to Sourat towards Fatihat, Zain, Asia, Marah Al-Haj, Al-Allali, Mehmersh, Mar Mama, Al-Masrah, reaching Dahr Abi Yaghi. This road will be closed on Saturday from 09:18 to 12:18.
The third part of the rally will commence on Saturday with the first car launching at 1:02 PM from the Fouad Chehab Complex in Jounieh towards Jbeil and Amchit upwards to Monsef.
- Special Speed Stage 5, 14.63 km: Monsef - Sabil.
This road will be closed on Saturday from 12:21 to 15:21.
- Special Speed Stage 6, 21.40 km: Ain Ayyah - Deir Bella.
This road will be closed on Saturday from 13:34 to 16:34.
- Special Speed Stage 7, 26.12 km: Sourat - Dahr Abi Yaghi.
This road will be closed on Saturday from 14:35 to 17:35.
The cars will then continue towards Baqi'a, Darya, descending to Jran, the Madfon Highway, Jbeil, reaching the service area in the Fouad Chehab Complex starting from 17:35, then from 18:35 entering the closed parking, concluding the first part.
