PETROLINA CYPRUS RALLY
October 23rd-25th, 2026
FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC), round 5
For immediate release
Wednesday, October 21st, 2026
SAUDI ARABIA’S HAMZA BAKHASHAB HEADS TO CYPRUS TO CHALLENGE FOR MIDDLE EAST CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE
NICOSIA (CYPRUS): The FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) has reached its decisive stage, with just one round remaining in Cyprus on October 23rd-25th, as the battle for the championship title intensifies.
Although Saudi driver Hamza Bakhashab’s main objective this season with the support of official partner Jameel Motorsport, was to gain further experience in international rallying, his impressive performances in the previous three rounds, together with the support and guidance of his father Abdullah Bakhashab have placed him among the leading contenders to challenge for his first FIA Middle East Rally Championship title.
The 22-year-old driver, from Jeddah, currently holds second place in the championship standings, just four points behind Qatari leader Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah. Hamza is preparing to contest the Petrolina Cyprus Rally alongside his Lebanese co-driver Joseph Matar.
Hamza began his season at the Oman Rally, where he finished eighth following suspension damage, before securing second place in Qatar and third in Jordan, continuing his progress in the championship standings.
With four of the leading championship contenders absent from the Rally of Lebanon, the battle at the top of the standings has become even closer ahead of the final round in Cyprus.
Expressing his excitement ahead of the rally, Hamza said: “Thanks to the continued support of Jameel Motorsport, I have had the opportunity to take on new challenges and gain valuable experience and I am really excited to compete in the Cyprus Rally. From what I have seen, the stages look completely different from anything I have driven before, so it will be a new experience and challenge for me and something I am really looking forward to.”
He added: “I know it is not going to be an easy rally, especially as it will be my first time driving on roads like these. My plan is to start with a good rhythm, get to know the stages and gradually increase the pace as I gain more confidence and become familiar with the conditions. My goal remains the same: to keep learning, gain as much experience as possible and hopefully come away with another good result.”
Hamza is also aiming to follow in the footsteps of his father, Abdullah Bakhashab, who won the FIA Middle East Rally Championship title in 1995, a significant achievement in Saudi Arabian motorsport history.
Organised by the Cyprus Automobile Association, the Petrolina Cyprus Rally features 12 gravel special stages in the Troodos Mountains, covering 183.92 competitive kilometres within a total rally distance of 657.74 kilometres.
The rally headquarters, service park and media centre will be based in Nicosia, while Larnaca will host the ceremonial start and finish.
The entry list includes 19 FIA crews and 11 national crews, with eight teams competing for Middle East Rally Championship points.
FIA Middle East Rally Championship – standings After round 4
| Position | Driver | Points |
| 1 | Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT) | 70 |
| 2 | Hamza Bakhashab (KSA) | 66 |
| 3 | Nasser Khalifa Al-Atya (QAT) | 61 |
| 4 | Abdullah Al-Rawahi (OMA) | 56 |
| 5 | Bassel Abu Hamdan (KSA) | 51 |
| 6 | Shaker Jweihan (JOR) | 41 |
Ends