Dubai: Lebanese rally champion Abdo Feghali only needed a second position in the final stage of the Lebanese Championship for this year in order to guarantee his local title and win the Middle East Hill Climb Championship.
That is exactly what Red Bull driver did during the 7th International Speed Race organised by the ATCL and held last Sunday in Deir Al Kamar.
Twenty nine pilots of five nationalities participated in the race, acclaimed by a large crowd of rally fans.
The race is the third and final stage of the "Middle East Speed Race Challenge" for this year after Syria and Jordan races.
Double delight
Race winner was Roger Feghali, Abdo's elder brother, in his Mitsubishi Lancer (prototype).
However, Abdo's second position in his Mitsubishi Evo VI granted him the Middle East title.
In Feghali's first participation in the Middle East Hill Climb Championship, he became the first Lebanese pilot to win that title; he also kept his Lebanese title, therefore doubling the Lebanese joy.
The race included three official rounds. In the first official round, Roger registered 1:34:60 min vs. 1:38:39 min for Abdo in second place, and 1:41:20 min for Jordanian Hussam Salem on his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI in third place.
In the second one, Roger registered 1:32:87 min, Abdo 1:38:47 min, and Salem 1:40:92 min.
And in the third round intended for the first ten pilots, Roger registered 1:33:69 min, followed by Salem with 1:39:80 min, then by Lebanese Rodrigue Rahi on his Lancia Delta HF Integral with 1:42:38 min. Abdo who registered 1:54:24 min chose to drive calmly after securing his second position and therefore the Middle East Championship title.
Red Bull driver expressed his total satisfaction concerning the results mainly that his only issue was to win the Middle East title and keep the local title.
"I knew before the race that I would not be able to compete with Roger who had the priority on his car. My focus was on finishing the race ahead of Jordanian Hussam Salem for we were eyeing the Middle East Championship," said Abdo about the competition with his brother Roger.
