JEDDAH, 6 April 2006 — International rally drivers Abdullah Bakhashab and Ahmad Al-Sabaan came together with senior executives of Mobily at a spectacular event at Jeddah Hilton on Tuesday night.
The occasion was the first-time sponsorship of motor sport across Saudi Arabia by the Kingdom’s second mobile service operator.
Mobily announced the launch of major sponsorships in karting, autocross and desert race ‘tatees’ that will be organized in many places in the Kingdom.
Mobily will also enlarge its support for motor sport to include the sponsorship of Mobily Rally Team Middle East under the leadership of ace rally driver Ahmad Al-Sabaan.
“Our efforts are directed toward fulfilling ambitions of youth in the field of sports,” Mobily’s Marketing Manager Ahmad Al-Hosani said during the press conference.
“Mobily’s sponsorship reflects the interest it has in youth, one of the most important sections of society,” Al-Hosani said, adding that its objectives include spreading the message and concept of safe driving in specially dedicated places rather than on the road or in the street.
“In fact, Mobily plans to support all motor sport activities related to youth,” he said.
A feather in Mobily’s cap is that it has managed to obtain the right to sponsor the national football team for the World Cup in Germany in June. “This sponsorship emphasizes the social role of Mobily toward society and its contribution for developing all sports activities across the Kingdom,” Al-Hosani said. “In fact, Mobily has become the first telecommunications company in the Kingdom to sponsor such events,” he added.
According to the sponsorship deal, Mobily will be the main sponsor for all 2006 motor sport competitions across the Kingdom organized by the Abdullah Bakhashab Establishment for Motorsport Development.
The support of Mobily as the main sponsor will be for Mobily Karting Championship, Mobily Autocross Championship and Mobily Desert Race (tatees), all of which have been planned for 2006. These will be in addition to the Middle East Rally Championship rounds by Mobily Rally Team Saudi Arabia under the leadership of Al-Sabaan.
Abdullah Bakhashab expressed his delight over the Mobily’s sponsorship agreement. “This new support will certainly enhance the motor sport campaign and interest among young Saudis,” he said.
Ahmad Al Sabaan also expressed his happiness over the sponsorship and said it emphasized the fact that firms were keen to encourage motor sport activities.
Although motor sport is relatively new in the Kingdom, its popularity has risen in the past few years. “The success of motor sports events organized in the last few years has been largely responsible for creating interest among youth,” he said. “Soon, youth will realize that the street is not for races or a place to reveal their skills when we have dedicated race tracks and circuits for such purposes,” he added.
Some rally drivers present at the event were hopeful that such sponsorship agreements and support from reputable firms would definitely increase the interest in motor sport.
