HAIL, 9 February 2007 — The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia enters the history books by mounting its first ever international motor sport event, the Hail Saudi Baja, branded and advertised as the Hail Rally 2007 The Great Nufud Challenge and an official candidate rally for inclusion in the 2008 FIA International Cup for Bajas. The event gets off the ground this afternoon in Hail city in the north-central region of the Kingdom.
The Saudi Motor Sports Committee (SMSC) have laid on a challenging three-day competition for an international field of 36 cars. Senior FIA officials will monitor the organization closely to decide whether the event joins established Baja-type rallies in Italy, Spain, Portugal and Wales in an expanded and potentially thrilling FIA championship in 2008.
Over 50,000 spectators are expected to flood into Hail to witness one timed special stage near the city center this evening and two varied selective sections tomorrow and Sunday in the remote deserts to the north and west of the city.
The event is being held under the patronage of the Governor of Hail, Prince Saud ibn Abdul Mohsen, and with the full support of Hail Development Authority, the General Headquarters for Youth Welfare and the Supreme Commission for Tourism.
Toyota will support and sponsor this event through its Toyota Land Cruiser that will be the official car of Hail Rally 2007and the platinum sponsorship of the rally.
Not only is the Hail Saudi Baja the biggest sports event to take place in the Hail region, but it marks Saudi Arabia's first footsteps into international motorsport.
Heading the entry is Saudi Arabia's Farhan Abdullah Al-Galeb, who won the trial Baja event in 2006. His Toyota Land Cruiser will kick-start the competitive action today, although stiff competition is expected from the UAE's Ahmed Bin Soughat and Ali Al-Shawi in a pair of powerful Nissan Patrols.
Qatar's Sheikh Hamed Bin Eid Al-Thani, the 1993 FIA Middle East Rally Champion and defending UAE National Champion, opted sportingly to permit a local driver to enter his Nissan Patrol at the 11th hour.
Saudi drivers dominate the entry list, with the likes of FIA Middle East championship regulars Prince Khaled Bin Faisal and Abdullah Al-Marri among the top 10 starters. They will be co-driven by the experienced Lebanese Joseph Mattar and Oman's Hamoud Al-Jabry, respectively.
"On behalf of the organizing committee, I would like to welcome all the teams, officials and members of the media to Hail," said Mishaal Al-Sudairy, Chairman of the Organizing Committee.
The route for this year's Hail Saudi Baja features classic desert terrain on sandy surfaces. There are sections of treacherous sand dunes, mountainous tracks, fast piste and twisty gravel trails.
Tomorrow's 291.1km selective section starts at 08.15hrs near Jubbah, north of Hail, and features passage controls at Bir Al Radefah (50.82km), Bir Al Sora (73,19km), Taas Zbeden (104.96km) and Al Ghadeh (220.63km) before finishing close to the start. There is a refuelling zone at Bir Al Alim (154.50 km). Crucial sponsorship for Saudi Arabia's premier Baja comes from Al-Maraa'i,the Saudi Basic Industries Company (SABIC), Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper, Al-Rasheed Engineering, MBC, Safra Power, Yamama Cement, Toyota, the Ahli Commercial Bank, Saudi Airways and Bison energy drink.
Today the ceremonial start takes place at 2 p.m. at the Prince Sultan Center in Hail, prior to the opening timed two-kilometer super special at 4 p.m.
