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3. Spring Rally: Roger Feghali, Still the Boss

He had promised to let his driving do the talking—and he delivered flawlessly. Roger Feghali dominated the 40th Spring Rally, the opening round of the 2025 Lebanese Rally Championship, claiming victory like a true master against fierce competition that, for now, remains a step behind.

When the engines roared and the rain poured over the winding roads of Kesrouan and Jbeil, one name once again crushed the stopwatch: Roger Feghali.

The lord of Lebanese rallies, 16-time winner of the event, reminded the entire paddock that it’s not yet time to turn the page. With his loyal co-driver Joseph Matar, he led the way from the first to the last kilometer, winning five out of six special stages, including the opening super special on Saturday night in Kaslik, in front of a fired-up crowd.

Behind Him, A Fierce Battle

While the final victory was never really in question, the fight for the remaining podium spots lived up to the hype. Basile Abou Hamdan, driving brilliantly, snatched second place after a heated duel with the returning Nicolas Amiouni, who made his comeback after eight years away.

Abou Hamdan, alongside Firas Elias, finished 27.5 seconds behind Feghali—but more crucially, 7.7 seconds ahead of Amiouni and his co-driver Chadi Beyrouti. A strong podium for the 2014 Lebanese champion, proving that time away hasn't dulled his competitive edge.

The Race: An Untouchable Feghali

From the opening stage, Feghali made his intentions clear: he wasn’t there just to participate. He posted the fastest time in Kaslik, then delivered a masterclass in wet conditions on Sunday morning over the challenging roads of Blat–Almat and Hboub–Bentaël.

Not even the unpredictable weather could unsettle the rally veteran, who expertly controlled the pace and fended off all challengers.

A Championship Launched at Full Speed

With this 40th career victory at the Spring Rally, Roger Feghali sets the tone for the 2025 championship and takes an early lead in what promises to be a fiercely competitive season. All eyes now turn to the Jezzine Rally, which is shaping up to be another battle between experience and rising talent.

For now, however, the old lion has roared once more—and the numbers speak for themselves.