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Saudi Motorsport accelerates as 2nd Round of Hill Climb Championship concludes in Taif

Saudi Motorsport accelerates as 2nd Round of Hill Climb Championship concludes in Taif
Saudi driver Faisal Al-Qabbani secured first place in the second round of the Saudi Toyota Championship Hill Climb that concluded on Saturday in Aqabat Al Muhammadiyah, Al Shafa. (Supplied)
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Updated 19 July 2025

Saudi Motorsport accelerates as 2nd Round of Hill Climb Championship concludes in Taif

Saudi Motorsport accelerates as 2nd Round of Hill Climb Championship concludes in Taif
  • Faisal Al-Qabbani overall clocked the fastest time of 1 minute, 43.116 seconds
  • The event was held under the supervision of the Ministry of Sport, and organized by the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation

TAIF: Saudi driver Faisal Al-Qabbani secured first place in the second round of the Saudi Toyota Championship Hill Climb that concluded on Saturday in Aqabat Al Muhammadiyah, Al Shafa.

Al-Qabbani overall clocked the fastest time of 1 minute, 43.116 seconds, meanwhile Maamoun Al-Qabbani came in second with a time of 1 minute, 43.962 seconds, said a media statement.

Jean Lahoud claimed third place with a time of 1 minute, 45.681 seconds.

The event was held under the supervision of the Ministry of Sport, and organized by the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF), in collaboration with official partner Jameel Motorsport and the Saudi Motorsport Marshals Club.

The second round was marked by a high standard of organization and notable participation, reflecting the rapid progress of motorsport in the Kingdom and the growing stature of the championship across the regional motorsport landscape.

Mohammed Madani, Executive Vice President for Strategic Management and Business Development at the SAMF, expressed his satisfaction with the successful conclusion of the second round. He conveyed his pride in the outstanding level of organization and the spirit of competition, both of which reflect the ongoing development of motorsport in the Kingdom.

“This championship reflects the commitment of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation to advancing motorsport and providing high-quality competitive platforms that support the discovery and development of young Saudi talent. It also reflects the Federation’s vision to build a sustainable and professional motorsport ecosystem,†Madani said.

In Class 1, Faisal Al-Qabbani also took first place with his leading time of 1:43.116, ahead of Maamoun Al-Qabbani in second, and Mahmoud Abed in third.

In Class 2a, Jean Lahoud topped the leaderboard with a time of 1:45.681, followed by Ahmed Al-Qaidi in second and Ahmed Bajunaid in third. Meanwhile, Class 2b was won by Rabih Al-Aawar with a time of 1:50.820, with Abdullah Al-Qabbani and Mohammed Al-Sharyan securing second and third respectively.

In Class 3a, Ibrahim Al-Shouraida led with a time of 1:52.508, followed by Sultan Hamdi and Hazem Al-Dabbagh in second and third. Class 3b saw Hamza Bakhashab take first place with a time of 1:58.785, ahead of Riyadh Batal in second and Abdullah Khoja in third.

In Class 4a, Abdullah Al-Khuriji secured the top spot with a time of 1:59.538, followed by Hisham Al-Badea and Bandar Al-Sulami. In Class 4b, Ali Al-Khadhair took first with a time of 2:04.960, while Abi Wael Zafar and Khaled Baghdadi placed second and third respectively.

In Class 5a, Abdulaziz Al-Fadhili claimed first place with a time of 2:09.574, followed by female driver Enas Abtini in second and Mohammed Abdelghaffar in third. Class 5b was won by Hatem Al-Hazmi, who clocked a time of 2:10.043, ahead of Mohammed Habbal and Saeed Al-Ghamdi in second and third positions.

As for the additional competition categories, Abdulaziz Al-Rumaih won Category 2 SS with a time of 1:52.767. In Category 2 SC, Saeed Al-Mouri came first with a time of 1:54.291, followed by Abdullah Al-Omari in second and Talal Al-Asimi in third.

It is worth noting that the third and final round of the Saudi Toyota Championship Hill Climb will take place from 7 to 9 August.

The final round is expected to play a pivotal role in further embedding motorsport culture within the Kingdom and inspiring the next generation of Saudi talent to pursue a future in this thrilling sport.


Global gaming business opens regional HQ and esports venue in º£½ÇÖ±²¥

Global gaming business opens regional HQ and esports venue in º£½ÇÖ±²¥
Updated 05 November 2025

Global gaming business opens regional HQ and esports venue in º£½ÇÖ±²¥

Global gaming business opens regional HQ and esports venue in º£½ÇÖ±²¥
  • ESL FACEIT Group describes new studio in Riyadh as premier event space of its kind, says it will help cement city’s status as a global leader in esports
  • ‘We are committed to supporting the Kingdom’s vision, tapping into its energetic, young population to fuel major growth,’ says CEO Niccolo Maisto

LONDON: ESL FACEIT Group, a video game entertainment and operations business, opened its new regional headquarters and flagship esports venue in Riyadh on Tuesday, a move it said furthers its commitment to the growth of esports in º£½ÇÖ±²¥.

It described the studio, which covers more than 1,000 square meters and can accommodate more than 500 guests, as Riyadh’s premier event space of its kind and said it will help solidify the city’s status as a global capital for esports.

It will serve as a hub for esports fans and communities, EFG added, while hosting local tournaments, such as the ESL Saudi Challenge, and international competitions. With more than 300 square meters of LED screens, it said, the venue also offers comprehensive facilities for broadcasters, as well a venue for brand activations and other marketing and media events.

“We are committed to supporting the Kingdom’s vision, tapping into its energetic, young population to fuel major growth,†said CEO Niccolo Maisto.

“With the opening of our new regional headquarters, we are establishing a new stage for our most exciting competitions, while helping to drive key infrastructure and localized content.

“We firmly believe Riyadh is becoming the global capital of esports, and we’re honored to play a leading role.â€

EFG said its investment in the new facility is expected to create professional pathways for the development of Saudi talent and creation of jobs across multiple functions, including broadcast production, content creation, and community and event management. This is in line with the aims of º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s National Games and Esports Strategy to create 39,000 jobs and contribute SR 50 billion ($13.3 billion) to national gross domestic product by 2030.

Mohammed Alasiri, EFG’s director of human resources, said: “Walking into the new facility in Riyadh, I felt the energy of a new chapter and the opportunity for us, as Saudi talent, to shape the future of esports.

“This studio isn’t just a building; it’s a hub for local ambition, global standards and community growth.â€

EFG was the official operating partner for the recent Esports World Cup in Riyadh, an eight-week event organizers described as the largest esports and gaming festival in the world. The business said that it has been developing tournament structures, anticheat software, live gaming events, and esports festivals for gamers and fans for more than 20 years, with a combined fan reach of 225 million.

Counter-Strike, a team-based multiplayer, tactical, first-person shooter, is one of the most popular games that feature in contests hosted by EFG, and its predecessor the ESL (Electronic Sports League). Others include Dota 2, League of Legends and Call of Duty.

“We were here for the past, we are doubling down on our investment for the present, and we are committed to building the future of esports†in º£½ÇÖ±²¥, Maisto said.

“This studio is a physical testament to that commitment, allowing us to effectively bridge local Saudi audiences and competitions with our global fanbase and events, creating highly attractive, long-term engagement opportunities for international and local brands.â€