JEDDAH, 7 June 2007 — Saudi rally driver Yazid Al-Rajhi is to pit skills with some of the region’s best in the Syria International Rally in Damascus, Syria, fifth round of the Middle East Championship.
The Syrian leg of the ME rallies kicks off with the opening ceremony today with the actual race to begin tomorrow from 9 a.m. The rally ends on Saturday.
Al-Rajhi is among the 35 competitors from Qatar, UAE, Jordan, Lebanon, Cyprus, Kuwait, Austria and host Syria seeing action in the event organized by the Syria Cars Club and the Syrian Ministry of Tourism.
Syria has been preparing for this event for more than five months. “Winter was over and summer began. We thought the weather was stable but suddenly rains came. It caused massive changes on the road and destroyed all the natural and geographical landmarks listed on the maps distributed to the rally drivers,” said Loutfi Estwani, chief press officer of the event in a telephone from Syria yesterday.
Estwani said that despite the difficulties they managed to work day and night and succeeded to put everything back to normal and finished the preparations on Sunday. The following two days after Sunday the competitors started training and found no obstacles. “We hope it does not rain again until the race is over,” he said.
The rally covers a distance of 761 kilometers. Thirty-five specialist teams of mechanics are also present and prepared for the event. The race for the first time, Estwani said, will start from within a residential area so people could watch and enjoy.
“I believe a large number would be able to watch and be amused by the celebration and the race, especially that it is open for all free of charge.”
Defending champion Nassir Al-Attiyah of Qatar told the press during a break in training he is optimistic he could keep his title this year, “I came to Syria to win and nothing but to win.”
In message to Al-Rajhi and Kuwaiti Salih ibn Eidan Al-Attiyah said patience would be the key to success adding, “I wish the Saudi team would continue to participate in this championship if only for the country’s tradition in the sport started by Saudi ace Abdullah Bakhashab. It is now high time to see more development in Saudi motor racing in addition to seeing more Saudi champions in the sport.”
