Sunday 01 / February / 2026
Riyadh --- International racer Hamad Al Wahaibi clinched first place in both the Challenger and Masters categories of the FIA World Baja Cup during the Hail International Baja hosted in the city of Hail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Al Wahaibi delivered a remarkable performance in the opening round of the Baja World Cup, securing the top spot in his categories and finishing within the top ten in the overall standings, an achievement that reflects his high level of readiness and technical consistency.
The competitors navigated the "Baqaa" stage, which served as the rally’s first special stage, covering a total distance of 414 kilometers, of which 242 kilometers were timed.
Al Wahaibi completed this stage in eighth place overall and second in the Challenger category, having led his class during the first stage of the 2026 Baja World Cup season. Al Wahaibi and his co-driver maintained a high pace throughout all stages of the rally before concluding the competition strongly in the final stage, achieving a distinguished result that adds to his successful track record. It is noted that Al Wahaibi participated in this same rally last year in the Challenger and Masters categories.
"The rally was exceptional and witnessed great harmony with the co-driver; we did not encounter any navigational issues throughout the race," Al Wahaibi stated, indicating that the next milestone in the 2026 season will be continued preparation and participation in the Dakar Rally, which is scheduled to take place in 2027 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Al Wahaibi’s new season is set to be intensive, featuring participation in six rounds of the Baja World Cup across several countries, alongside rounds of the World Rally-Raid Championship (Cross-Country) and the Saudi Baja Rally Championship.
