Yasir Seaidan snatches early lead at Sharqiyah International Baja Toyota

Yasir Seaidan snatches early lead at Sharqiyah International Baja Toyota

DAMMAM — Yasir Seaidan set the fastest time on the opening 10km qualifying stage of the Sharqiyah International Baja Toyota in the Half Moon Bay area of Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province on Thursday afternoon.Seaidan and co-driver Alexey Kuzmich posted a time of 6min 22sec for the sandy test in their Mini John Cooper Works Rally and duly edged into a lead of 26 seconds over Miroslav Zapletal at the wheel of his self-built Ford F-150.Pre-Baja favorite Yazeed Al-Rajhi finished third overall in his Toyota Hilux and T4 category leader Saleh Al-Saif and Khalid Al-Feraihi rounded off the top five. Dutchman Erik van Loon completed the stage in sixth place in the second of the Belgian-built Toyotas.Saudi Arabia's Dania Akeel finished her first competitive stage with French co-driver Laurent Lichtleuchter in a time of 10min 03sec and held 11th overall.Eleven FIA machines, 26 cars entered in the National Rally, one truck, 21 motorcycles and 10 quads were eventually permitted to take the start line of the third round of the 2021 FIA World