HUMMER Racing In the Ha'il International Rally

Defending champion Yazeed Al-Rajhi tops the provisional 35-car entry for this week’s "Ha’il International Rally", the Kingdom’s flagship FIA-sanctioned cross-country rally, which will run for nearly 1000 competitive kilometres through the north-central region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from March 24th-28th.

Al-Rajhi, who travels to the event straight from competing in the Kuwait International Rally, has taken charge of a powerful Hummer from Robby Gordon’s team in the United States of America and teams up with the experienced Portuguese co-driver Filipe Palmeiro, as he attempts to win the event for the fourth time in five years.

“The car reached Saudi last week and we have been making our final preparations since then," enthused Al-Rajhi. "I am in Kuwait now for the round of the Middle East Rally Championship, but I am looking forward to trying to win my home event again, especially now the rally has a longer and different format."

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dave Horwath on March 28, 2013 at 2:34pm

I know they use special seats and energy absorption systems in helicopters for just this type of landing. One heck of a compression....

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by GLuce on March 28, 2013 at 7:59pm

Ouch. The seated human body can withstand much higher Delta-V from a frontal impact than it can from a drop. That's why when you brace for an airplane crash you put your head between your legs. That ex-RGM fleet is not a toy.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Wally Meier on March 29, 2013 at 3:00am

Best of luck to Yazeed and Alex, hope for a speedy recovery and looking forward to seeing the two of you kicking some mini ass in the Dakar!!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Juan Manuel on March 30, 2013 at 8:20pm

No more Hummer in Robby hands??????

http://www.marathonrally.com/news/fia_world_cup_my_racing_from_belg...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on March 30, 2013 at 8:23pm

http://www.planetrobby.com/forum/topics/the-hummer-has-a-new-home

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Juan Manuel on March 30, 2013 at 8:50pm

My link say that they will use 2 hummers, your link say the bought one hummer............. ????

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on March 30, 2013 at 8:56pm

Hummer number one only made it back to NC acouple of weeks ago, It's not finished being modified to FIA spec's.

It's not my link as much as it's WJM announcing to the Planet 2 weeks ago that the HUMMER's and Freightliners (2) where sold

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Wheaton56 on March 30, 2013 at 8:46pm

Bummr for my own selfishness, because I thought ty hummer wa s so cool. And had a lot of RnD n it. But the future will tell what RGM does for future Dakar. ...or if they even attempt.

Like someone said before a SST may be sweet. Well one day.

Its SST time

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Hendricus on April 12, 2013 at 6:52pm

Yazeed's back breaker. Ain't never seen noth'n like it! Ever!

Yazeed's back breaker

Notice how gentle the dunes are all around this one hidden drop off. Crazy stuff! Deja vu Dakar!

Interesting how there exist video from a distance of the crash. What's they say about Baja racing and the gathering of kind hearts...?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by shorty on April 12, 2013 at 8:49pm

correct me but does this drop seem like the same type of drop where Robby flipped over at Dakar? There are also other vehicle tracks on that drop, so would it have been due to the long front or other factors? educate me on this.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Hendricus on April 12, 2013 at 9:22pm

OB, I think the same sort of hidden drop that got Robby got Yazeed. My guess is that the reason for the mishap has nothing to do with the long front, low seat arrangement of the Hummer. I think it has more to do with their speed at that very moment.

I'm sure other drivers and cars crash in this same way when racing through dunes. The difference perhaps, is that Robby - and now Yazeed - are honest and open enough to show us their screw ups once in while.

My respect for Robby ticked up a notch after watching his Dakar crash video. You could argue that it was not his fault, and in a sense I would agree. Shit happens. But whether it was you, I, or Robby driving that day, the driver is responsible for a lot. Even if Robby is responsible for only 10% of that crash. That 10% weighs on you and takes you down. If I was Robby I would say, "Please, don't post THAT video!"

Maybe Robby has no control over what does, and does not, get posted. Perhaps it's better that way. Unedited reality racing. What could be better. I know why I like it!

As for Yazeed, I hope the best him and his co-driver. I pray they recover soon. I want to see them racing the Hummer again!