Local drivers out to thwart Eidan’s Group N title challenge

AMMAN — While most eyes will be on Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah’s quest for an 11th FIA Middle East Rally Championship title in 13 years at this weekend’s Jordan Rally, there is a secondary battle going on under the radar for the Middle East’s prized Group N crown, according to the Jordan Rally Media Service.

Held in conjunction with the eight-round regional rally series and open to cars that are more reminiscent of those we see on our public highways, the Group N series has a strong following. Drivers are attracted by the availability of competitive cars, the lower budgets required to run a rally programme and a close level of competition.

Kuwaiti driver Salah Bin Eidan arrives in the Kingdom with a 30-point lead in the championship with three rallies to run — Jordan, Oman and Dubai. Eidan and American navigator Alex Gelsomino finished fifth overall in Jordan last season with a Ford Fiesta R5, but the Kuwaiti switched to a showroom category car for 2015 and teamed up with the Slovenian co-driver Vili Oslaj.

“The goal is obviously the championship title, but I know that a podium finish is possible here if some of the more powerful S2000 cars have problems,” said Bin Eidan. “We have had a good season so far and the target is a finish and more points on the board, but I would also like to finish as high as possible.”

Edith Weiss has been competing in the Middle East since the 1990s and is enjoying her best ever season. The Mitsubishi driver is a clear second in the points’ standings and will take the start of the Jordan Rally nine points in front of Qatar’s Rashid Al Naimi. A further point behind is the fourth-placed Kuwaiti driver Mishari Al Thafiri, who finished 10th overall in Jordan last year. These are the only four drivers who can realistically win the 2015 Group N Championship.

But several Jordanian drivers are present to upset the applecart.

Husam Salem teams up with Nancy Majali for a second year and will be hoping to retain his Group N crown in Jordan. Salem finished a superb sixth overall last season with his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and a second maximum points score in 17 months could throw the title race wide open.

Marouf Abu Samra has enjoyed missed fortunes in recent Jordan rallies and had planned to compete at the Dead Sea with navigator Nicolas Fanous. But plans to run a new car were thwarted by late logistical delays.

Other local competitors capable of causing a Group N upset include Khaled Juma, Ihab Shorafa and the second female driver Lina Hadadi.

The event gets under way on Thursday afternoon with a full programme of activities, starting with the ceremonial start in Abdoun Circle from 2:30pm and the opening 2.5km spectator stage, starting at 4:30pm.