Lebanese driver Roger Fahsli and his co-driver Joseph Matar claimed the title of "Coral Lebanon International Rally 45," organized by the Lebanese Automobile and Touring Club over a span of three days. This event was the fourth round of the Middle East Championship. Abdullah Al-Rawahi from Oman and his co-driver Atta Al-Hamoud from Jordan finished in second place driving a "Skoda Fabia R5," while Lebanese drivers Basel Bou Hamdan and his co-driver Firas Elias took third place in another Skoda Fabia Rally 2.
Following the withdrawal of Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah and his co-driver Mathew Bomel after their Volkswagen Polo GTI Rally 2 veered off course during the fifth speed stage on Saturday, Fahsli dominated the event and led without competition, leaving the battle for second place between Al-Rawahi and Bou Hamdan, after Alex Fahsli also dropped out on the final day. Fahsli finished the rally with a lead of 3 minutes and 46 seconds over runner-up Al-Rawahi and 4 minutes and 42 seconds ahead of third-place Bou Hamdan.
On Sunday, four special speed stages took place in Metn, with Fahsli recording the fastest times, proceeding with caution to avoid unexpected incidents.
Here are the unofficial overall standings of the drivers upon the conclusion of the rally:
1. Roger Fahsli (Lebanon) and Joseph Matar (Lebanon) in Volkswagen Polo GTI Rally 2: 1:52:53
2. Abdullah Al-Rawahi (Oman) and Atta Al-Hamoud (Jordan) in Skoda Fabia R5 Rally 2: 1:56:39
3. Basel Bou Hamdan (Lebanon) and Firas Elias (Lebanon) in Skoda Fabia Rally 2: 1:57:35
4. Rabi Ayoub (Lebanon) and George Nader (Lebanon) in Skoda Fabia Rally 2: 2:01:40
5. Elias Al-Dahni (Lebanon) and Amin Aql (Lebanon) in Citroën DS3: 2:06:23
6. Raafat Al-Mehtar (Lebanon) and Omar Makhzoor (Lebanon) in Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10: 2:07:05
7. Tarek Younes (Lebanon) and Selim Jleilat (Lebanon) in Ford Fiesta R5 Rally 2: 2:09:50
8. Shadi Faqih (Lebanon) and Samar Safir (Lebanon) in Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10: 2:11:01
9. Karl Rizk (Lebanon) and Karim Abu Elias (Lebanon) in Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9: 2:12:01
10. Charbel Shibl (Lebanon) and Doleen Schlenk (Lebanon) in Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8: 2:12:50
11. Ahmed Khaled (Lebanon) and Joseph Kmeid (Lebanon) in Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10: 2:13:52
12. Joseph Salem (Lebanon) and Sami Awad (Lebanon) in Peugeot 208: 2:14:55
13. Nabil Qambz (Lebanon) and Karim Qambz (Lebanon) in Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9: 2:16:37
14. Tony Jermanos (Lebanon) and Eli Mahna (Lebanon) in Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9: 2:18:15
15. Walid Schlenk (Lebanon) and Andre Ashqouti (Lebanon) in Renault Clio: 2:23:37
16. Yusuf Al-Dhafiri (Kuwait) and Carlos Hanna (Lebanon) in Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10: 2:26:26
17. Paul Qaseefi (Lebanon) and Rwad Issa (Lebanon) in Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10: 2:27:52
18. Rwad Al-Hashem (Lebanon) and Gary Koundakjian (Lebanon) in Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9: 2:28:55
19. Joanna Hassoun (Lebanon) and Clara Janbar (Lebanon) in Renault Clio: 2:38:10
20. George Shahwan (Lebanon) and Christopher Khnaldjian (Lebanon) in Suzuki Swift: 2:42:32
21. Albert Hayek (Lebanon) and Louai Saqr (Lebanon) in Renault Clio: 2:52:56
22. Meshari Al-Dhafiri (Kuwait) and Nasser Al-Kuwari (Qatar) in Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10: 2:59:53
23. Jason Wahbeh (Lebanon) and Andre Mahna (Lebanon) in Skoda Fabia R2: 3:20:18
Shadi Faqih and his co-driver Samar Safir won the "Group N" title, while Elias Al-Dahni and his co-driver Amin Aql took the Front-Wheel Drive category title. Joanna Hassoun received the Ladies' Cup and the Young Driver Cup. Joseph Salem and his co-driver Sami Awad won the RC4 R2 category cup, while Raafat Al-Mehtar and his co-driver Omar Makhzoor won the SN1 class cup. Charbel Shibl and his co-driver Doleen Schlenk won the SN2 class cup, and Walid Schlenk and his co-driver Andre Ashqouti won the SN3 cup. Doleen Schlenk was awarded the co-driver trophy.
The awards ceremony was attended by Minister of Justice Judge Henry Khoury, Minister of Tourism Walid Nassar, Dr. Raja Labaki representing Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. George Kallas, Brigadier General Simon Tard, representing the Commander of the Lebanese Army General Joseph Aoun, Captain George Habshi representing General Director of General Security Major General Elias Bechara, Captain Mark Jirgis representing General Director of Internal Security Forces Major General Imad Osman, the organizing club president Attorney Eli Asaf, Secretary-General of the club Camille Aadh, members of the board, heads of the FIA officials, rally officials, representatives of sponsoring companies, and a large gathering of media personnel.
