Mohamed al-Meer was crowned as the Manateq Qatar National Baja champion. Al-Meer and his co-driver Alex Kuzmich finished second in the sixth and final round, which was enough for them to seal the championship.
Al-Meer also had his share of luck after championship leader Sheikh Hamad Bin Eid al-Thani and co-driver Firas Alouh had to retire from the final round, after their Nissan Patrol pickup suffered an engine failure in the first stage.
The final round was won by Ahmed Alouh and his co-driver Nasser Saadoun al-Kuwari on Can-Am Maverick X3, ahead of al-Meer and Russian Kuzmich on Nissan Patrol. Kuwaiti Abdul Aziz al-Bashayr and co-driver Abdul Aziz al-Mahrous came third on Can-Am Maverick X3, followed by Jamal Fakhroo and co-driver Saed Abu Shawarab on Nissan Patrol in fourth.
Ten cars started the rally but only four were able to complete the two stages, which was 90km each. The prize-giving ceremony was held at the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF), which is located at Lusail Sports Hall.
Mohammed al-Attiyah missed the event due to personal reasons, while Nayef al-Nasr also missed out due to a surgery. Al-Meer led the event after stage one ahead of Alouh with Abdul Aziz al-Bashayr third and Jamal Fakhro in fourth.
In stage two, Alouh took the lead, al-Meer slipped into second place, but it was all he needed to secure the overall title. Alouh claimed his second win of the season, having also emerged triumphant in the fourth round.
QMMF’s 2019 season will begin with the start of the opening round of the FIA Cross Country Championship, the Manateq Qatar Cross Country Rally, which will be held from February 21st and 26th.
Manateq Qatar National Baja Round 6 Results
1. Ahmad Alouh / Nasser Saadoun al-Kuwari (Can-Am Maverick X) Time: 32:17:51hrs
2. Mohamed al-Meer / Alex Kuzmich (Nissan Patrol) +1:39 mins
3. Abdul Aziz al-Bashayr / Abdul Aziz al-Mahrous (Can-Am Maverick X 3) +1:18:07hrs
4. Jamal Fakhro / Saed Abu Shawarb (Nissan Patrol) +1:27:14hrs
Mohamed al-Meer (top right) and his Russian co-driver Alex Kuzmich celebrate after winning the overall title of the Manateq Qatar National Baja championship at the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation’s headquarters at Lusail Sports Hall. At bottom, participants pose with Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation officials after the sixth and final round of the Manateq Qatar National Baja championship at Lusail Sports Hall.
