Day Two of Rally Jameel ended with Swedish veteran Dakar rally racer Annie Seel and her co-driver Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky taking the stage win and the overall lead in their Toyota RAV4 by just two points. The pair took the least penalties on a near faultless drive to win the second leg, ahead of the US pairing of Dana Saxten and co-driver (and daughter) Susanne Saxten in second. Third went to the American team of Emme Hall and co-driver Rebecca Donaghe, with less than a point separating them from second place for leg two.
“We are happily surprised every day, as we’ve never competed in this format of rallying,” said Seel. “Average timing is a tough challenge, so Day One was a learning day for us, and we’ve improved our system for Day Two. We are stoked to win Day Two and to be in overall first place. Now we are a bit nervous for the last leg as the others are breathing down our necks.”
Saudi Arabian driver Maha Al Hamly, with co-driver Pochola Hernàndez moved up from sixth yesterday to fifth today in their Toyota Prado, moving them up to second overall. Al Hamly and Hernàndez race separately with different partners in Spain but decided to come together just for Rally Jameel.
Day two of the navigational rally, which is not designed as a speed test, began in the Uyun Al Jawa area in the Qassim region, with the start taking place near to the famous Antar and Abla rock.
After a long drive of more than 400 kilometres, passing by the iconic Saq Mountain, the competitors finished the day at Khartam park, the location of the overnight bivouac. The final day of the rally, on Saturday, sees the competitors head to the capital Riyadh, via hidden checkpoints and challenges.
The eventual overall winner, from the 34 teams from around the world that started the rally, is the team that builds up the most points by the end of the rally, by arriving at the correct times to the various checkpoints and daily finish.
The rally is an initiative by Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, organised by Bakhashab Motorsports, and sanctioned by the Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation (SAMF).
Day 2 Results (after 726.90 km):
- Car 21: Annie Seel Sweden Toyota RAV4 545 Points
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky Sweden
- Car 27: Dana Saxten USA Toyota Prado 191 Points
Susanne Saxten USA
- Car 22: Emme Hall USA Toyota Fortuner 170 Points
Rebecca Donaghe USA
- Car 25: Lyn Woodward USA Toyota Fortuner 859
Sedona Blinson USA
- Car 9: Maha Al Hamly Saudi Arabia Toyota Prado 191
Pochola Hernàndez Spain
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