RIYADH, 14 October 2006 — The Supreme Commission for Tourism has signed an agreement here on Thursday night with Al-Mizyani Commercial Services to stage the capital’s first ever rally cross and drag race championship.
The championship is set to take place in the capital at the tail of the Eid holidays on Oct. 26 and 27 and then again for a three-day period between Nov. 1- 3. It will be held in the Thumama area outside of Riyadh near Fantasy Land during the evening hours between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Tickets for the event will be available for men only.
The championship will include four car races with different engine capacities and three motorbike races, among which are four wheelers.
According to Abdullah Al-Asheikh, executive manager for development of tourism in Riyadh, the aim of organizing the sport event is to draw more tourism to the capital. He also said that it would give an opportunity for young Saudi men to watch these races in a professional event, a matter that would be beneficial to them in their leisure time. In addition, it would raise awareness among youth of the sport in a healthy environment without damaging any public or private property, he said.
The event is being supervised by the Saudi Motor Sport Commission and the General Presidency of Youth Welfare.
Mishaal Al-Sudairi, head of the Saudi Commission for Motor Cars and Motorbikes, said that as many as 40 competitors will be competing from inside Saudi Arabia and nearby Gulf countries. “We have sent out invitations to racers in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait,” he said.
He said that amateur drivers were also allowed to compete after contacting the presidency, but said it was a must that the amateur show proof of a racing license.
As for Saudi teams that wish to compete in the championship, he said that all the members’ names, ages, and details of their cars must be provided prior to the championship by four weeks.
Competitors who are crossing the border to come to the Kingdom from Gulf countries with their sport cars will be given permission to do so by the presidency.
“Since this is the first time we organize this event in the capital, we hope that in the near future this would be a regular event held throughout the year where youth in the capital and elsewhere can attend and see the events,” said Al-Asheikh.
He said that he expects 20,000 to 30,000 persons to attend the event in the capital, noting that previous motor racing events held in Hail and Al-Qasim were a huge success.
For his part, the head of the Saudi Commission for Motor Cars and Motorbikes said that the sport was relitevely new in the Kingdom, despite racing talents from Saudi individuals. He noted that the commission has only been established in the Kingdom in the past three months, but said there was great potential in Saudi youth for the sport. He also said that he hoped that the sport of “tatees”, which means skidding in the desert sand by jeeps, would be presented to international sport in the Kingdom.
