- 20
- May
- 2025
The second round of the 2025 Lebanese Speed Test Championship saw the Faqra track rumble with roaring engines and blistering lap times. Under the patronage of ATCL, 102 cars defied the asphalt and the laws of gravity. The result: a full-blown show, battles decided by tenths of a second and the high-profile comeback of Billy Karam behind the wheel.
The mountain shook, tires screamed and the stopwatch spoke. The second Speed Test of the season, masterfully organized by the Automobile and Touring Club of Lebanon (ATCL), delivered all the thrills this weekend in Faqra (Kfardebian). With a record-breaking participation of 102 cars, the mechanical showdown counted as the second round of the 2025 Lebanese Championship.
Tight Margins in Every Category
Once again, Alex Feghali left no room for doubt. The rally prodigy, competing in the BF2 category (4WD), dominated the race in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 with a blistering time of 1:26.32, edging out Paul Kosseify, who clocked 1:26.94—a clash of titans where tenths of a second made all the difference.
Not far behind, the competition was fierce:
• Mansour Zakka took the BF3 category with 1:29.07.
• Basil Abou Hamdan dominated BF4.
• Jalal Daibes, Jean-Pierre Saab and Michel Zgheib had a tight battle in BF2 (2WD).
In the Super Street category, Xavier Massaad blew up the timesheets in L6 with 1:31.07, ahead of Basil Nasr and Pierre Rizk. Other category winners included Jad Bouez, Boudy Kallab, Alexander El Achkar (Alico) and Hani Raadse, who all clinched victory with style and drift.
In Street, Elias Bechara nailed it with his Mazda MX-5, winning L3 with a time of 1:40.80, closely followed by Rudy Khabbaz and Mazen Habr. Among the women, Mia Atallah claimed the Women’s Cup, while Gary Kondakjian impressed in L1.
In the Exotic Cars category, it was a luxury showdown, with Steve Asfahani narrowly beating Joseph Mardirosian and Steve Hermes. The latter two made up for it in Elite Cars, securing first and second place respectively, with Alfred Nader rounding out the podium.
Shoutout to:
• Ali Khayyat, winner of the Classic Cars category.
• Wisam Roukoz, who took home the Disability Challenge Trophy.
• Edwin Khneisser, the fastest in the Cross Cars category, ahead of Elias Dahdahni.
Billy Karam’s Triumphant Return
But the real shocker of the weekend was the surprise comeback of Billy Karam himself! The former rally and hill climb champion, now ATCL president, roared onto the Faqra asphalt in a Porsche GT2. A powerful gesture that electrified the paddock.
The final podium ceremony, applauded by an enthusiastic crowd, featured key figures from Lebanon’s automotive scene: Billy Karam, Imad Lahoud, Sam Rahme, Issam Makhlouf, Najib Akiki, Wassim Mhanna, Georges Chahwan, Kabi Kreiker and Nabil Kombaz (Race Director).
In Faqra, the mountain shook to the rhythm of roaring engines. The next round? Even higher, faster and more intense.
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