Hamid Wahibi, the Omani champion, concluded the 2026 FIA World Baja Cup season by finishing third in the overall standings and first in the Masters category for drivers over 50 years old. He also secured second place in the Challenger category, achieving this success after competing in the Qatar and Dubai races with his Can-Am Maverick R vehicle.
Season Challenges and Injury
These results were achieved despite Hamid Wahibi's injury and broken leg, which prevented him from participating in the entire season. He missed two rounds of racing in Europe, rounds that he heavily relied on to collect significant points and succeed in his quest for the world championship title. Therefore, he needed to compensate for the lost points by participating in the Qatar and Dubai races.
New Experiences and Progress
Hamid Wahibi relied on the European rounds due to the nature of their courses, which were based on technique and driving skill. While driving on sandy desert tracks requires a different approach and style, this type of terrain is less familiar to Wahibi. Hamid Wahibi's goal in participating in the Baja Qatar and Baja Dubai races was to gain more experience in these types of terrains, even though he had not fully recovered from his injury. He returned from two rounds of racing with a wealth of experience in sandy driving and had a high chance of winning the world championship by finishing second in the Challenger category.
After the season concluded, Hamid Wahibi expressed his satisfaction, saying: “I am very happy with these results. This season was not easy; it was a tough season. I learned a lot from it and made many mistakes along the way. The speed was always there, but sandy tracks sometimes require experience to know when to ease off your maximum effort.”
He also added: “I greatly benefited from participating in the Qatar and Dubai races and gained a lot of experience in sandy conditions. I must also thank everyone who was with me in this success.”
