Roger Fghali and his co-driver Joseph Mattar secured the title at the 29th Cedar Rally, organized by the Lebanese Automobile and Touring Club over two days in the northern governorate. Bassil Abou Hamdan and his co-driver Firas Elias finished in second place driving a Volkswagen Polo GTI, one minute and 29 seconds behind the leaders, while Rabi Ayoub and his co-driver George Nader placed third in a Skoda Fabia, just 0.006 seconds behind Abou Hamdan and 1 minute and 29 seconds behind Fghali, showcasing a fierce competition for the runner-up position as Fghali dominated the rally from the start with ease.
The race is part of the second phase of the Lebanese Rally Championship for 2024, following the Spring Rally. The total distance covered was 199.98 kilometers, including 90.80 kilometers over seven special speed stages (one exhibition stage on Saturday and six speed stages on Sunday).
Here are the final results for the top competitors:
1. Roger Fghali and Joseph Mattar on Skoda Fabia – 49:14.5 minutes
2. Bassil Abou Hamdan and Firas Elias on Volkswagen Polo GTI – 50:43.7
3. Rabi Ayoub and George Nader on Skoda Fabia – 50:44.1
4. Karl Rizk and Karim Abou Elias on Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10 – 51:29.8
5. Alex Fghali and Mark Haddad on Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10 – 51:51.6
6. Roderick El Raai and Nabil Qambaz on Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 – 52:49
7. Elias Dahani and Omar Mahfouz on Citroen DS 3 – 53:49.6
8. Domit Bou Domit and Rami Mouniem on Citroen DS 3 – 53:53.5
9. David Mazhar and Shadi Nasr on Citroen DS 3 – 54:30.7
10. Mohammed Taj Eddin and Joseph Kamid on Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 – 55:01.8
Karl Rizk and his co-driver Karim Abou Elias won the RC2 NR4 class, while Alex Fghali and his co-driver Mark Haddad claimed the NS4 class title. Elias Dahani and his co-driver Omar Mahfouz took the RC4 R3T class title, and Ahmed Khaled with co-driver Moussa Geheryan won the RC3 R3 Cup. Albert Hayek and his co-driver Louay Saqr won the RC4 R3 Cup, and Shadi Faqih and his co-driver Samer Safir earned the RC5 R5 class title. Joseph Salem and his co-driver Carlos Hanna topped the RC4 R4 class.
Joanna Hassoun and her co-driver Clara Janbar won the ladies' cup, while Charbel Khalifa and Danny Haj Assaf won the NS2 class cup, and George Issac and his co-driver Eli Mehna won the NS3 class cup.
The awards ceremony took place in front of the "Ehden Country Club" hotel, hosted by Zgharta Ehden municipal member Shafiq Ghazala representing the municipal council, along with representatives from "Ehden Country Club," Monique Yammine from "Coral," the director of the national sports committee in the organizing club, Suleiman Khattar, the head of the automobile sports department, Gabi Krekar, and race director Dr. Ghi Hakim with his deputies attorney Ziad Jamous and Gabi Hayek, along with other heads and members of the rally committees.
