The third round of the 2021 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies will traverse territories in Russia and Mongolia, and marks the return of Al-Rajhi’s Irish co-driver from injury OMSK: Saudi motorsport star Yazeed Al-Rajhi and his Irish navigator Michael Orr have embarked on the third round of the 2021 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies, the Silk Way Rally, which will cross Russia and Mongolia. Orr is making his comeback in the Toyota Hilux car, in the Belgian Overdrive Team, after an accident earlier this year at Sharqiyah Baja. Al-Rajhi was the first Saudi and Arab driver to win the race’s highest category, T1, in 2018. He remains the only Arab driver to take part in this rally. Starting in Omsk, the largest city of the West-Siberian region in Russia, the race is following an entirely new and challenging route, featuring 10 multiple and technical stages over a course of 5000 km, including more than 3,000km in special stages. The route will cross mountainous Mongolia and the Gobi Desert before reaching the finish line on July 11 at the capital city of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar. “I am very happy to participate in the Silk Way Rally for what will be the fifth time in my career,” said Al-Rajhi. “Silk Way is a very difficult rally, you can never predict it. It is one of the most difficult rally races in the world, after Dakar of course. The last days are often decisive because as we know the world of motorsport is full of surprises and mysteries.” “We’re looking forward to a wonderful 10 stages. I also would like to thank my strategic partner Toyota and Abdul Latif Jameel Motors for their unlimited support,” he added. Al-Rajhi welcomed Orr’s comeback, saying: “Michael Orr will return to the team for the Silk Way Rally after his full recovery from the Sharqiyah Baja accident and I am happy that he is back. We are looking forward to an extremely exciting race, we hope God will grant us success and luck in this mission.” Orr said he has been longing to return to action since the accident in March. “I feel very excited to be back with Captain Yazeed after my long recovery journey. I received the green light from my doctors and I am happy to be back again,” he said. “Of course, it will be my first experience with the team in the Silk Way Rally. It will be definitely a tough competition. We have a long rally, long stages in Mongolia, exciting terrain. I will do everything I can for the team to win the rally title.” “My recovery process has been slower than I expected,” he said. “In fact, my fractured neck took longer to be healed, and thankfully, here I am today.”