Saudi Arabia’s motorsport talent has delivered a historic year on the global stage, with multiple athletes capturing international titles and cementing the Kingdom’s rising influence in motorsport.
Dania Akeel has been crowned the 2025 FIA Middle East Baja Cup champion for the second consecutive year, securing an impressive 304 points – 33 points ahead of Qatar’s Khalifa S. Al-Attiya, who finished second. Dania also clinched first place in the Ultimate Class, proving her consistency across all four Baja rounds.
Speaking to Izabella from Jeddah Dania says; “This was an amazing achievement, I’m very happy to win two consecutive titles. This is a sign of commitment and focus and discipline. You need consistency for rally raid so I’m very happy that this was the case for having two titles in a row.”
Her success extends beyond the regional series. Back at home, in the Saudi Toyota Championship Rallies, Dania sits in second place with one final round to go behind Yazeed Al Rajhi, the 2025 Dakar Rally Champion. In the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship for the Challenger category, Dania finished third overall, an achievement that has improved since last season in a championship whose season opens with the iconic Dakar Rally – dubbed the toughest endurance rally in the world. Dania is set to return to Dakar on January 3rd with her sights firmly set on victory in the Challenger class, aiming to solidify her place among the world’s elite rally-raid competitors.
Looking ahead after Dakar, Dania affirms her ambitious plans saying “I will move back into the Bajas for the World Cup next year instead of the Middle East, we’ll take it one level up. The target is always to grow and develop and become a better contender every season, so we’ll go for the Bajas World Cup for 2026”.
Rising star Hamza Bakhashab added to the Kingdom’s medal haul by winning the FIA Middle East Baja Cup title in the SSV category, alongside the 2025 ME Baja Cup Junior Driver title. The son of Saudi rally legend Abdullah Bakhashab – Hamza is proudly carrying forward his father’s legacy while forging his own path in the sport. His upward momentum accelerated earlier this year when he won the inaugural Dakar Next Gen competition at the 2025 Dakar Rally, earning him and co-driver Fahad Alamr a guaranteed entry to the 2026 Dakar Rally. Hamza’s season continues this weekend as he lines up to compete in the WRC Rally in Jeddah on 25th – 29th November – the final round of the FIA World Rally Championship.
Speaking to The Saudi Times from the WRC paddock in Jeddah, Hamza reminisces that the titles are the product of two years of hard work, dedication and support from his team and Jameel Motorsport his sponsor.
“The goal now is to build on this momentum. I want to keep developing as a driver, take on bigger challenges, and prepare for the next step internationally while also representing my country Saudi Arabia. Every race is a chance to learn, and the focus is on improving speed, strategy, and physical conditioning. The long-term vision is to compete at the highest level, so this championship is just the start of the journey.”
In the FIM ranks, Hani Al-Noumesi delivered another strong season, securing both the FIM Baja World Cup – a title he also claimed in 2024 – and the FIM Baja Asia Cup in the Quad category. With 81 points, nearly double that of his closest rival Antoine Sanchez on 45, Al-Noumesi showcased the dominance that has defined his career since he began competing in 2017. He adds to this multiple appearances at the Dakar Rally, further highlighting his experience and tenacity.
Other notable wins include Majeed Al-Thunayyan the 2025 FIA Baja World Cup winner in the Stock category, Fahad Alsufyani the 2025 FIA Baja World Cup winning navigator in the Stock category, Rakan AlRashed who placed 4th in 2025 FIA Middle East Rally Championship, and Haitham Al-Tuwaidri who placed 2nd in the FIM Asia Baja Cup.
As the international motorsport calendar winds down, attention shifts to the Jeddah Baja, taking place 3rd – 6th December 2025 – the final round of the Saudi Toyota Championship. Championship winners will be celebrated later in December at the prestigious Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation’s (SAMF) Prize Giving Ceremony, marking the end of a milestone year for Saudi motorsport.
The Saudi Times continues to bring the inside scoop on the Kingdom’s sports events and Saudi Arabian athletes. Follow for more insights as we continue to cover the stories that shape the nation.
