- 13
- June
- 2025
The 12th edition of the Jezzine Rally, the second round of the Lebanese Rally Championship, promises a thrilling spectacle this Saturday and Sunday. The ATCL has confirmed the participation of 24 teams, ready to take on seven winding special stages between Barti, Wadi Jezzine and the heights of the south. And this year, women are making their voices heard from inside the cockpit.
This weekend, the Mecca of Lebanese rallying shifts to Jezzine, a perched gem in the south, where hairpin turns, steep descents and abrasive tarmac will form the battleground for a high-intensity motorsport showdown. The Automobile and Touring Club of Lebanon (ATCL) has confirmed the closing of registrations: 24 teams will take off on Saturday evening for two days of racing against the clock, covering a total of 237.02 km, including 93.18 km of timed stages spread over seven speed tests—one of which is a special stage weaving through the streets of Jezzine.
Women Take the Wheel
This edition has an extra kick: three female teams will spice up the competition. Rhea Dagher and her co-driver Nadim Abou Elias (#16), Joanna Hassoun with Elie Mhanna (#20) and the fully female duo of Anna Simone Yazbeck and France Souhaid (#25) in a Skoda Fabia R2, who stand out as a rare and remarkable presence in a sport still largely dominated by men. This triple feminine touch speaks volumes about the passion and boldness driving these Lebanese women.
Top Contenders on the Grid
Leading the charge is the legendary Roger Feghali (#1), teaming up again with Joseph Matar in the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. Facing tough competition, the Oman-Jordan pair Abdullah Al-Rawahi / Ata Al-Hmoud (#2) will compete in a Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo, alongside Bassel Abou Hamdan / Firas Elias (#3) in a Volkswagen Polo GTI R5. Also worth watching: Rabih Ayoub, Alex Feghali, Rodrigue Rahi, and Elias Dehni—all armed with fiercely competitive Skodas or Mitsubishis.
A Selective and Demanding Route
The rally kicks off on Saturday at 6:00 PM with the cars entering the closed park, followed by a festive ceremonial start at 6:30 PM in Jezzine’s main square, preceded by a press conference at 5:15 PM.
On Sunday, the action starts early with stages 1, 3 and 5 on the Bisri – Wadi Jezzine loop (15.03 km)—a legendary climb punctuated by technical corners between the old dam, Bkassine and Jezzine’s town center.
Next come stages 2, 4 and 6 on the Barti – Aytouli loop (15.63 km), via Reimat, Saidoun and Moukhtara—just as winding and often decisive.
Finally, the cherry on the hood: the seventh stage will be a 1.20 km urban show-stage in the heart of Jezzine, with the finish line and podium scheduled for 5:00 PM in the central square. The service and regrouping park will remain based in Jezzine throughout the weekend.
A Tradition Without Number 13
As is tradition in rallying, no crew has been assigned the number 13—officially considered unlucky, but more often lucky for those who avoid it. So, 24 crews will compete, all aiming to etch their names into the records of a rally that’s become a staple of the national motorsport calendar.
So, see you this weekend in Jezzine for two days of pure adrenaline, in a festive, engine-fueled atmosphere—among majestic pines, echoing engines and the unwavering passion of Lebanese rallying.
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