JEDDAH — Officials in Saudi Arabia have announced a revised version of this year's Rally Jeddah, which will run as a cross-country rally across the Kingdom's western deserts for cars, motorcycles and quads on Nov. 17-18. The event runs to a shorter two-day format this year, as it is doubling up as an official candidate event for the recently announced 2017 Gulf Challenge. The brainchild of Abdullah Bakhashab, the former FIA Middle East Rally champion, the event is supported by Mohamed Yousef Naghi Motors (MYN Motors) – Land Rover once again and is sanctioned by the FIA. Rally Jeddah has the full support of the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation (SAMF) and runs under the patronage of Prince Mishaal Bin Majid Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Governor of Jeddah and head of Rally Jeddah's higher organizing committee. "This year we are running a two-day rally and a shorter format," said Bakhashab. "We want to be part of the new Gulf Challenge alongside events in Oman, Qatar and the UAE next year and this is an excellent opportunity for us to get the event running smoothly in the same format as the Gulf Challenge in readiness for next season." Additional support for Rally Jeddah comes from the MBC Group, Al-Arabia advertising, Al-Madina newspaper and Total Oils. Rally headquarters will be based at the Makarem Resort from Nov 17. Administration checks will be carried out at the HQ, while scrutineering will be located at the nearby Land Rover dealership's workshops in Auto Mall on Malik Street. After a ceremonial start on North Abhur from 19.30hrs, the competitive action starts with a timed super special stage of around three kilometers on 20.00hrs on Nov. 17. The action then switches to a challenging desert selective section of around 220km in the Khulais area from 13.00hrs on Nov. 18. The prize giving will take place adjacent to the super special stage from 21.00hrs Friday evening. Saudi Arabia's leading WRC and cross-country rallying star Yazeed Al-Rajhi won the first two editions of Rally Jeddah, initially with French navigator Alex Winocq in 2014 and with his regular German navigator Timo Gottschalk last year. Fellow countryman Monif Al-Shammeri won T2 and Abdul-Majeed Al-Khulaifi has won the motorcycle category on two occasions. The event is being organized with the support of the higher committee of Rally Jeddah, which incorporates the General Presidency of Youth Welfare, Jeddah Municipality, the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiques in the Mecca region and a branch of the Saudi Red Crescent in Mecca. Support has also been received from Jeddah police and traffic departments and civil defense administration. Entries close on Nov 13. For further information on entries and concessions, contact Abdullah Bakhashab, Abdullah S. M. Bakhashab Est. Trading and Marketing Services, PB 16263, Jeddah 21464. Tel: + 966 12 6513574, Fax: + 966 12 6520310, E-mail: [email protected], www.rallyjeddah.com.
