Monday 24 / November / 2025
Dubai (United Arab Emirates): Omani champion Hamed Al Wahaibi concluded his 2025 season by securing third place in the overall standings for the lightweight vehicle "Side-by-Side" (SSV) category in the FIA World Baja Cup.
This achievement followed his participation in the final round, the Dubai International Baja, driving a BRP "Can-Am Maverick R" with the RX Sport team, managed by Emirati champion Rashid Al Ketbi.
What began early this year as an experiment for Hamed Al Wahaibi—when he was invited to compete in the Masters category at the Ha'il Rally—evolved into an extensive program of intense participation in long-distance Baja rallies.
This was made possible with the support of the RX Sport team, competing in the T4 category for production lightweight vehicles (SSV).
While Al Wahaibi's primary goal was to gain experience in these rallies—which differ significantly from the World Rally Championship events he previously participated in—he surprised everyone by achieving a string of strong results, most notably securing first place in Italy and Hungary. These victories ultimately culminated in his third-place finish in the final championship standings.
This season was not without its challenges for Hamed Al Wahaibi. Despite his vast racing experience dating back to the 1990s, it took him time to adapt to the specific demands of cross-country rallying in what he described as a "learning season to gain experience."
Hamed Al Wahaibi said: "We started with the Ha'il Rally, and there were no further plans, but my admiration for this type of rally motivated me to continue participating, especially with the support of my friend Rashid Al Ketbi. Thankfully, we overcame all the problems. My goal in this first season was not to compete for the championship, but rather to reach the maximum of my capabilities and the car's capabilities in the Baja rallies."
He added: "We gained valuable experience, and I must achieve more gains in desert rallies. Therefore, my program for next year is to intensify participation in cross-country rallies in the Middle East."
Al Wahaibi also revealed that for the next season, he will move to a lightweight vehicle in the Challenger category (T3)—vehicles specially manufactured for cross-country rallying—while remaining with the RX Sport team.
He plans to participate in the same rounds he contested in the 2025 season, in addition to the Morocco Desert Rally and the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, as part of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). His ultimate goal is to prepare and achieve full readiness in 2026 for participation in the Dakar Rally, the world's toughest rally, in 2027.
For his part, Emirati champion Rashid Al Ketbi, RX Sport Team Manager, said: "Thankfully, we had a successful start with Hamed since his first participation in the Jordan Baja, where he took second place."
He concluded: "Everyone knows the incredible speed Hamed Al Wahaibi possesses. With the experience he gained in the 2025 season rallies, he will be able to translate that speed into strong results in the Baja rallies next year."
