The Oman International Rally (known originally as the Rally Oman, is an international rallying event held to the south and south-east of the Omani capital of Muscat. The rally is run by the Oman Automobile Association.
The rally, first held in 1979, held on gravel roads and sand for the most part, has consistently been part of the Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) and the Gulf Rally Challenge that preceded it, as well as being a mainstay of the Oman Rally Championship. The first two events were won by Swedish driver Harry Källström before Qatari driver Saeed Al-Hajri became the first Arabian driver to win in 1981. After the rallies most recent interruption it was re-introduced as a round of the Omani championship in 2013 with MERC candidate status following in 2014. The rally rejoined the MERC officially in 2015.
Emirati driver Mohammed Ben Sulayem is the most successful driver in the events history having won the event six times between 1986 and 1998. Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah won four consecutive rallies from 2003 to 2006.
List of previous winners List of winners sourced in part from: YearWinnerCar 1979 Harry Källström Datsun 160J 1980 Harry Källström Datsun 160J 1981 Saeed Al-Hajri Opel Ascona 1982 Chris Walles Datsun 200SX 1983 Chris Walles Datsun 200SX 1984 Saeed Al-Hajri Porsche 911 SC 1985 Saeed Al-Hajri Porsche 911 SC 1986 Mohammed Ben Sulayem Toyota Celica TCT 1987 Mohammed Ben Sulayem Audi Quattro A2 1988 Björn Waldegård Toyota Celica GT-Four 1989 Not held 1990 Mohammed Ben Sulayem Toyota Celica GT-Four 1991 Mohammed Ben Sulayem Toyota Celica GT-Four 1992 Tony Georgiou Toyota Celica GT-Four 1993 Michel Saleh Toyota Celica GT-Four 1994 Mohammed Ben Sulayem Ford Escort RS Cosworth 1995-1997 Not held 1998 Mohammed Ben Sulayem Ford Escort WRC 1999-2003 Not held 2003 Nasser Al-Attiyah Mitsubishi Lancer RS Evo VII 2004 Nasser Al-Attiyah Subaru Impreza WRX STi 2005 Nasser Al-Attiyah Subaru Impreza WRX STi 2006 Nasser Al-Attiyah Subaru Impreza WRX STi 2007 Khalid Al-Qassimi Subaru Impreza WRX STi 2008-2012 Not held 2013 Abdullah Al-Qassimi Mitsubishi Lancer RS Evo IX 2014 Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari Ford Fiesta RRC
External links
Official website
References