The first round of the Saudi Toyota Hill Climb Championship 2026 concluded, held on the Aqabat Al-Muhammadiyah track in Al-Shifa area, Taif, amid competitive excitement and with the participation of 43 drivers (male and female) competing in 10 different categories, including the Ladies Cup, in one of the strongest rounds since the championship's inception. The championship is held under the supervision of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, as the owner and developer of motorsports in the kingdom, managed by Bakhashab Motorsports, in partnership with Jameel Motorsports as the official partner of the championship, and Brandshap as the strategic partner for the 2026 season. The first round saw the implementation of the new competition system for the 2026 season, which aims to raise the level of competition and increase excitement until the last moments, as two qualifying rounds were added to the round's program, raising the number of competitions to six, compared to four competitions in each round of last season. After the qualifying rounds, the top 20 drivers in the overall standings, along with the first-place holders in each category, qualified for the two decisive runs that took place at 2:00 PM and 3:30 PM, with final results based on each driver's best time in the decisive runs. The Aqabat Al-Muhammadiyah track, stretching 4.2 kilometers through sharp mountain bends and altitude differences, hosted strong competition that reflected the continuous development of hill climb racing in the kingdom, as drivers delivered outstanding performances facing one of the most challenging tracks on the championship calendar. The results of the first round are as follows:

Class 1: Mamoun Al-Qabbani took first place with a time of 3 minutes, 28 seconds, and 936 thousandths of a second, followed by Faisal Al-Qabbani in second place.

Class 2A: Ahmed Al-Qaidi claimed first place with a time of 3 minutes, 42 seconds, and 228 thousandths of a second, with Rabie Al-Awar in second place.

Class 2B: Saber Al-Zulfi achieved first place with a time of 5 minutes, 57 seconds, and 480 thousandths of a second.

Class 3A: Sultan Hamdi came first with a time of 3 minutes, 51 seconds, and 128 thousandths of a second, followed by Abdullah Khujah in second place, and Mahmoud Abed in third place.

Class 3B: Ibrahim Al-Sharida took first place with a time of 3 minutes, 59 seconds, and 755 thousandths of a second, followed by Sultan Kailo in second, and Mohamed Abdelghaffar in third.

Class 4A: Abdulaziz Al-Fadhli won first place with a time of 4 minutes, 6 seconds, and 280 thousandths of a second, followed by Bandar Al-Sulami in second, and Yassin Al-Fanso in third.

Class 4B: Abdullah Mo'mena led the category with a time of 4 minutes, 4 seconds, and 413 thousandths of a second, followed by Hisham Al-Badee in second, and Ali Fadl Ali in third.

Class 5A: Faisal Nu'man clinched first place with a time of 5 minutes, 12 seconds, and 14 thousandths of a second, while Inas Abtini came second, and Osama Hakim third.

Class 5A (C2): Abdullah Al-Omari took first place with a time of 3 minutes, 51 seconds, and 750 thousandths of a second.

Class 5B: Hatim Al-Hazmi won first place with a time of 4 minutes, 16 seconds, and 342 thousandths of a second, followed by Omar Al-Deeni in second, and Mohamed Hbal in third.

Ladies Cup: Reem Al-Abboud claimed first place with a time of 4 minutes, 24 seconds, and 729 thousandths of a second, followed by Inas Abtini in second, and Yasmine Al-Sayed in third.

The first round of the Saudi Toyota Hill Climb Championship 2026 also achieved notable organizational success, thanks to the extensive field efforts of 38 marshals along the Aqabat Al-Muhammadiyah track, who played a pivotal role in supporting site readiness, organizing the movement of drivers and vehicles, and applying the highest safety standards, contributing to a well-organized and safe competitive environment for participants throughout the round.

The first round confirms the continued development of the Saudi Toyota Hill Climb Championship, whether through the updated competition system, the rising technical level of drivers, or organizational aspects, within the framework of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation's efforts to develop motorsports and provide a professional platform that contributes to discovering national talents and promoting a culture of competition according to the highest international standards. With the conclusion of the first round, attention turns to the second round of the Saudi Toyota Hill Climb Championship 2026, scheduled for July 17-18 on the Aqabat Al-Muhammadiyah track, where the competition is expected to see more excitement, given the close levels shown by the results of the first round, and the drivers' pursuit to improve their times and increase their points tally in the race for the season title.

Saudi Toyota Championship Motorsports Saudi Automobile Federation