RIYADH: The Kingdom is set to host its first-ever international special stage car rally, when the Eastern Province mounts the Saudi Rally, an official candidate event for the 2009 FIA Middle East Rally Championship, on Nov. 10-14.
The event is being organized by the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation (SAMF), under the patronage of Prince Mohamed ibn Fahd ibn Abdulaziz, governor of the Eastern Province, in the easily-accessible Dammam area with the full cooperation and support of the sport’s governing body, FIA, and the regional rallying coordinator and vice-president of the FIA, Derek Ledger.
Event officials in the country are currently sourcing suitable special stages to host such an event, but the event’s rally headquarters will be based at Half Moon Bay in the Al Khaleej village, where there will also be a spectator stage and technical scrutineering on Tuesday, Nov. 11.
It is hoped that the desert special stages will be situated around 20km from rally headquarters and the two days of competitive action will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 12 and Thursday, Nov. 13.
“We have been encouraged by the success and support for the Hail Saudi Baja, which is now an established round of the FIA International Cup for Bajas,” enthused Mishaal Al-Sudairy, chairman of the organizing committee.
The Saudi Rally is being devised from scratch by Bahrain-based Lebanese consultant Elie Semaan and his technical adviser and assistant clerk of the course Hamoud Al-Jabry, both experienced regional rally organizers.
Semaan was the clerk of the course of the Qatar Rally this year and was a former organizer of the Bahrain International Rally. Al-Jabry worked in an official capacity on the Oman International Rally for many years and, more recently, was involved in the running of the popular UAE national rally series. “The potential for running a superb special stage rally in Saudi Arabia is enormous,” said Semaan. Other officials have been integral in the success of the Hail Saudi Baja, with Derek Ledger acting as a rally consultant and Saleh Al-Solai working as deputy chairman of the organizing committee. Ammar Al-Qadhi will work in the role of rally director and Mohammed Atwa has been appointed as event secretary.
Saudi rally drivers have made their mark on the FIA Middle East Rally Championship for many years. Mohammed Al-Malki was the first driver to break on to the international scene and was followed into active competition by the eventual 1992 regional champion Mamdouh Khayat.
Abdullah Bakhashab won the regional series three years later before entering the FIA World Rally Championship and Ahmed Al-Sabban and Yazeed Al-Rajhi are regular competitors this season, with Al-Rajhi winning the Kuwait candidate event outright in February this year. Al-Sabban has been the first driver in the Middle East to experiment with the new S2000 category.
Further information about the event is available from the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation, PO Box 87881, Riyadh 11652, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Tel: + 9661 477 1035, Fax: + 9661 477 1050 and from Hamoud Al-Jabry, Mobile: +966 560 623436, E-mail:[email protected], www.saudimotorsport.com
