Hill climb championship heads back to Aqabat Al-Muhammadiyah

TAIF, Saudi Arabia: The 2026 Saudi Toyota Hill Climb Championship returns to Aqabat Al-Muhammadiyah in Al-Shafa, Taif, for its second round on July 17-18, following a strong opening round that set the tone for the season.

The championship is held under the supervision of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, the owner of the competition. It is managed by Bakhashab Motorsport, in partnership with Jameel Motorsport, the official partner of the championship.

The second round followed a competitive season-opener, where Mamoun Amr Alkabbani topped the overall standings with a time of 3 minutes, 28.936 seconds. Faisal Soufyan Alkabbani finished second, just 0.787 seconds behind, while Ahmed Abdul Algaidy placed third, 13.292 seconds off the leader. The results highlighted the highly competitive nature of the championship and the close margins between the leading drivers.

The competition will feature 10 categories, alongside the Ladies Cup. Competitors will take on the 4.2-km Aqabat Al-Muhammadiyah course, which features 30 corners and climbs from 1,900 meters to about 2,150 meters above sea level. The route presents a challenge that combines driving precision, corner management, and the ability to balance speed with control.

Friday’s program will begin with administrative checks and technical scrutineering for participating vehicles, followed by a drivers’ briefing attended by officials, organizing teams and technical teams. Official practice will then take place before Heat 1 gets underway. Competition will continue on Saturday with Heat 2, followed by Heat 3 and Heat 4, before the prize-giving ceremony is held.

Operations for the opening round were supported by 38 marshals, who helped to manage competitor and