The 2025 Lebanese Rally Championship began on familiar terms as Roger Feghali and co-driver Joseph Matar steered their car to victory in the 40th Spring Rally, organised by ATCL over two demanding days in Keserwan and Jbeil.
When the Lebanese rally season opens, all eyes naturally turn to one crew. In the 40th Spring Rally, that script held as Roger Feghali and co-driver Joseph Matar once again rose to the top, claiming victory in the championship’s traditional curtain-raiser.
Organised by the Automobile and Touring Club of Lebanon (ATCL), the Spring Rally ran over two days across the winding roads of the Keserwan and Jbeil districts. It offered a mix of fast, flowing sections and twisty mountain climbs—exactly the kind of terrain where experience and precision make the difference.
Two Days, Six Special Stages
The 40th edition of the event covered a total distance of 284.19 km, with 101.14 km of that figure made up of six special speed stages. The action began with a short show stage of 2.52 km near the organising club’s headquarters in Kaslik, giving fans an early chance to see the cars in full attack mode.
Feghali wasted no time setting the tone, winning the opening show stage, and establishing an immediate advantage. The rally then moved into five longer special stages on day two, where the real time gaps would be created—or erased.
Changing grip levels, corner cuts, and the constant risk of punctures made every kilometre a calculation in risk and reward. For the leading crews, one mistake could undo an entire weekend’s work.
Feghali and Matar Hold Off the Chasers
Behind the leading Motortune car, the battle for the podium quickly became a three-way fight. Basil Abu Hamdan, co-driven by Firas Elias, kept the pressure on and eventually secured second place, finishing 27.5 seconds behind Feghali and Matar.
Nicolas Amiouni and co-driver Shadi Beiruti completed the podium in third, just 35.7 seconds behind Abu Hamdan and Elias. Over a rally of nearly 300 km, such gaps underline how fiercely contested the stages were—especially in the top class.
While the final results showed a familiar name in first place, they also highlighted a competitive chasing pack, ready to punish any slip from the reigning master.
The First Chapter of the Championship Story
As the first round of the 2025 Lebanese Rally Championship, the Spring Rally carries extra weight. A strong result here does more than put points on the board; it sets the psychological tone for the season ahead.
For Feghali and Matar, the win confirms that their pace and partnership remain intact, and that the rest of the field will have to raise their game if they hope to challenge over the coming rounds. For Abu Hamdan, Amiouni, and others, podium finishes are proof that they are close—and that with cleaner runs or better conditions, the gap could narrow further.
The combination of classic stages, strong entries, and tight time gaps suggests that fans may be in for a compelling championship fight, even if the opening trophy went to a familiar pair of hands.
Spring Rally at 40: Tradition Meets Modern Competition
Reaching its 40th edition, the Spring Rally has long been a cornerstone of Lebanese motorsport. It connects generations of drivers and fans, from the early days of the championship to the present era of modern machinery and live social media coverage.
In 2025, that tradition continued—with a twist. While the names at the top of the results sheet look familiar, the level of competition beneath them is rising, and the roads of Keserwan and Jbeil remain a proving ground where reputations are tested every year.
For now, though, the story of the 40th Spring Rally belongs to Roger Feghali and Joseph Matar, who once again turned opportunity into victory and started the new season exactly where so many of their seasons have begun: on the top step of the podium.
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