With the Mediterranean on one side and hot summer air hanging over the hills, Roger Feghali and co-driver Joseph Matar guided their Toyota GR Yaris to victory in the very first Batroun Rally, inaugurating a new chapter in Lebanese rallying.
For motorsport fans along Lebanon’s northern coast, the inaugural Batroun Rally was more than just another date on the calendar. Organised by the Automobile and Touring Club of Lebanon (ATCL) in cooperation with the Batroun Municipality, the two-day event turned the region’s roads into a high-speed showcase for the country’s best rally drivers.
At the top of the timesheets, there was a familiar name. Veteran driver Roger Feghali, partnered by co-driver Joseph Matar in a Toyota GR Yaris, seized control of the rally from the opening kilometres and never let go, adding another victory to a record that has few parallels in regional rallying.
A New Rally on Lebanon’s Northern Coast
The Batroun Rally formed the third round of the 2025 Lebanese Rally Championship, following the Spring Rally and Jezzine Rally. Across two days of competition, crews tackled a total route of 163.57 km, including 92.17 km spread over seven special stages.
The event opened with a show stage on Batroun’s southern streets, offering spectators a close-up look at the cars and drivers under floodlights and camera flashes. Beyond the spectacle, the stage already mattered: it set the early order and gave a preview of the battle to come on the longer, more technical tests in the hills.
Twenty-one cars started the rally, ranging from modern R5/ Rally2 machines to older but highly tuned Mitsubishis and Subarus. Despite scorching conditions, crowds lined the stages, turning vantage points along the route into temporary grandstands.
Feghali and Matar Control the Pace
From the demonstration stage onwards, Feghali and Matar set the tone. Their Toyota GR Yaris laid down the fastest time in the opener, and the duo continued to build their advantage as the rally moved into more demanding terrain.
The pairing of Feghali’s experience and Matar’s precise pace notes allowed them to attack confidently on unfamiliar roads. While rivals pushed hard, small mistakes and time losses over seven stages made the difference. By the final time control, the #1 crew had carved out a clear margin at the top.
Behind them, Elias Dahni with co-driver Thierry Rouhana steered their Skoda Fabia to second place, with Rabih Ayoub and George Nader also in a Skoda Fabia completing the podium. For both crews, the result underlined the growing depth of competition behind the long-time champion.
Baptism of Fire for Batroun’s Special Stages
The weather added its own twist to the rally. Hot summer temperatures tested both engines and drivers, increasing the importance of tyre management and concentration. The twisting roads of Batroun’s hinterland, framed by sea views in some sections and tight, wooded stretches in others, offered an instant signature look for the new event.
For local authorities and organisers, the successful running of the rally was a statement in itself. It demonstrated that Batroun can host a motorsport event of national importance, with the potential to grow into a fixture that attracts international crews and fans in the coming years.
A New Trophy in a Storied Career
For Feghali and Matar, the win in Batroun is more than just another result column. It marks their place in history as the first champions of a new rally, a line that will remain even as future editions produce new winners.
It also extends their momentum in the 2025 Lebanese Rally Championship. Coming off victories in previous rounds, their success in Batroun further strengthens their title bid and sends a clear message: the benchmark remains high for anyone hoping to dethrone them.
Batroun Rally’s Future Starts Here
As the dust settled and the last fans drifted away from the stages, Batroun’s first rally had already achieved something important. It brought fresh energy to the championship, showcased new roads, and reinforced the north’s place on Lebanon’s motorsport map.
At the centre of it all, as so often in Lebanese rallying, stood Roger Feghali—this time not just as a winner, but as the first name on a brand-new trophy. If the debut edition is any indication, the Batroun Rally is here to stay, and future champions will be chasing a standard that was set high from day one.
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