Taif, Saudi Arabia, July 2026: The opening round of the 2026 Saudi Toyota Hill Climb Championship concluded at the Al Muhammadiyah Pass course in Al Shafa, Taif, following a highly competitive weekend that brought together 43 male and female drivers across 10 categories, including the Women’s Cup.
The event delivered one of the championship’s most competitive rounds to date, with drivers taking on a demanding mountain course and a new competition format designed to keep the battle open until the final runs.
The championship is held under the supervision of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, the governing body responsible for the development of motorsport in the Kingdom. It is managed by Bakhashab Motorsports, in partnership with Jameel Motorsport as the championship’s official partner and Brandship as the strategic partner for the 2026 season.
New Competition Format Raises the Stakes
The opening round marked the introduction of a new competition format for the 2026 season, aimed at increasing the level of competition and maintaining excitement until the final moments.
Two additional qualifying runs were added to the programme, increasing the total number of competitive runs to six, compared with four per round during the previous season.
Following the qualifying runs, the top 20 drivers in the overall standings, along with the winner of each category, advanced to two decisive final runs held at 2:00pm and 3:30pm.
The final classification was determined by each driver’s best time across the two deciding runs.
Drivers Take on the 4.2-Kilometre Mountain Challenge
Stretching for 4.2 kilometres through sharp mountain corners and significant elevation changes, the Al Muhammadiyah Pass course provided a demanding test for the field.
The challenging route produced close competition and highlighted the continued development of hill climb racing in Saudi Arabia, as drivers pushed for the fastest possible times on one of the toughest courses on the championship calendar.
Opening Round Results
In Class 1, Mamoun Al Qabbani claimed victory with a time of 3 minutes, 28.936 seconds, ahead of Faisal Al Qabbani in second place.
Ahmed Al Qaidi won Class 2A with a time of 3 minutes, 42.228 seconds, while Rabih Al Awar finished second. In Class 2B, Saber Al Zulfi secured first place with a time of 5 minutes, 57.480 seconds.
Sultan Hamdi topped Class 3A after recording a time of 3 minutes, 51.128 seconds. Abdullah Khoja finished second, followed by Mahmoud Abed in third.
In Class 3B, Ibrahim Al Shuraida took victory with a time of 3 minutes, 59.755 seconds. Sultan Kaylo finished second, while Mohammed Abdulghaffar completed the top three.
Abdulaziz Al Fudaili won Class 4A with a time of 4 minutes, 06.280 seconds, ahead of Bandar Al Salmi and Yassin Alfonso.
Class 4B victory went to Abdullah Mo’mena, who recorded a time of 4 minutes, 04.413 seconds. Hisham Al Badie finished second, followed by Ali Fadl Ali in third.
Faisal Noman claimed the Class 5A win with a time of 5 minutes, 12.014 seconds. Inas Abtini finished second, while Osama Hakim took third.
In Class 5A (C2), Abdullah Al Omari secured first place with a time of 3 minutes, 51.750 seconds.
Hatem Al Hazmi won Class 5B after setting a time of 4 minutes, 16.342 seconds. Omar Al Dini finished second, with Mohammed Habbal in third.
In the Women’s Cup, Reem Al Abboud took victory with a time of 4 minutes, 24.729 seconds. Inas Abtini finished second, while Yasmin Al Sayed completed the podium.
Strong Organisation and Safety Support
The opening round also recorded strong organisational success, supported by the work of 38 marshals positioned throughout the Al Muhammadiyah Pass course.
The marshals played a central role in preparing the venue, managing the movement of drivers and vehicles, and implementing high safety standards throughout the competition.
Their efforts helped provide a structured and secure environment for all participants across the event.
The successful opening round highlighted the continued development of the Saudi Toyota Hill Climb Championship through its updated competition format, rising driver standards and improved event organisation.
The championship forms part of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation’s wider efforts to develop motorsport in the Kingdom, create professional competition platforms, discover national talent and promote racing in line with international standards.
Championship Returns to Al Muhammadiyah Pass
With the opening round complete, attention now turns to Round 2 of the 2026 Saudi Toyota Hill Climb Championship, scheduled for July 17 and 18 at Al Muhammadiyah Pass.
Following the closely matched performances seen in the first round, the next event is expected to bring even more intense competition as drivers look to improve their times and strengthen their championship points totals in the race for the 2026 season title.
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