Munnings and Floberg victorious on second stage of Rally Jameel

UMLUJ: Catherine Munnings and her co-driver Catalina Floberg won the second stage of the Rally Jameel on Thursday, which finished in the coastal city of Umluj in Saudi Arabia’s northwest.

The British-Swedish duo, who drive for Altawkila, beat out the Fast Finns pair of Suvi Jyrkiainen and Suvi Nisula, who had to settle for second place.

Ewelina Chlebowska and co-driver Hanna Riehle of Sandstorm Express finished the stage in third place.

The rally, which is organized by Jameel Motorsport and supported by the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and the FIA Women in Motorsport program, was flagged off on Tuesday in Hail before progressing to AlUla.

Saudi driver Dania Akeel and co-driver Syndiely Wade secured top spot in the opening stage.

Racing in her home country and taking in the scenery of the Kingdom has been a highlight for Akeel and she told Arab News she was positive about her chances in the later stages of the rally.

“Every moment behind the wheel has been stimulating and engaging. With (Syndiely) Wade as my co-driver, we have faced each challenging stage with determination and with the intention to deliver excellence,” she said.

“Despite the competition, there’s a strong sense of camaraderie among us drivers, each pushing the other to greater heights, and we look forward to the coming stages of the rally,” she added.

Annie Seel, who won the inagural edition of the Rally Jameel, is currently a co-driver in the Kurdistan team, and also told Arab News she was enjoying discovering the beauty of Saudi Arabia during the rally.

“Each twist and turn of the desert terrain presents a fresh test of skill,” she said.

“Racing amidst such breath-taking landscapes is an unparalleled experience, igniting my drive to persistently push boundaries and pursue success in the motorsport realm. I am happy to join the rally again and to be alongside Iraqi driver Saz Gullani.”