Saudi, US defense ministers discuss over phone ways to enhance strategic cooperation    Grand Mufti expresses pride over Saudi Arabia's firm position on Palestine issue    5 expatriates arrested in Jeddah for practicing immoral acts at massage center    Saudi Arabia's inflation records slight rise reaching 2% in January 2025    Electromin celebrates victory of "Nissan Formula E Team" in "Jeddah E-Prix" as first Saudi private-sector global partner in Formula E    Saudi Arabia vows full support to Lebanon's actions to safeguard citizens' security    US-made heavy bombs arrive in Israel after Biden-era hold    Death toll from New Delhi railway station stampede rises to 18    US, Russia to begin Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia    Al Ittihad CEO calls for fairness as Al Hilal raises officiating concerns ahead of Saudi Classico    LG Electronics Saudi Arabia and Shaker Group mark 30 years of sustainable innovation in HVAC solutions    Benzema shines with goal and two assists as Al Ittihad dominate Al Wehda French star leads Al Ittihad to 4-1 victory, extending lead over Al Hilal ahead of top-of-the-table clash    60 truckload of Saudi aid reaches Syria through Nasib Crossing    Saudi Arabia among world's top 10 energy storage markets    Al Hilal held to controversial 1-1 draw against Al Riyadh, missing chance to reclaim top spot    Al Hilal accuses SPL's Michael Emenalo of bias and SFF's Manuel Navarro of pressuring team to accept local referees Club criticizes officiating, calls for elite foreign referees in Saudi Pro League    Maya Diab joins Arab stars and celebrities in celebrating the Centrepoint Ramadan 2025 collection launch at Riyadh Boulevard    Oilatum tackles rise in Eczema and Dry Skin in Saudi Arabia    HONOR brings together AI and luxury with PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic7 RSR at LEAP 2025    Chinese film stirs national pride, rakes in $1bn in days    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Dakar Rally 2021 kicks off with formal opening in Jeddah
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 02 - 01 - 2021

In the presence of Jeddah Governor Prince Mishaal Bin Majid and Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki Al-Faisal, King Abdullah Sports City here witnessed on Saturday the formal opening ceremony of the Saudi Dakar Rally 2021, before the official start of the race on Sunday.
The race will last for 13 days, cover a distance of more than 7,600 km, with the participation of more than 500 contestants from around the world.
The Rally is organized by the Ministry of Sport, in coordination with the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, falls in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 and the Quality of Life Program.
The competitors are set to cross 10 Saudi cities, within 12 different stages, passing through several governorates, cities and regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with a total distance of 7,600 km.
The opening ceremony, which was also attended by Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Abdullah Al-Faisal, chairman of the board of directors of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, presented the vehicles participating in the six racing categories.
The categories are cars, motorcycles, quad motorcycles, trucks and light desert vehicles, in addition to the new category Dakar Classic, which joins the Dakar Rally for the first time.
The opening ceremony included the arrival of the most prominent contestants to the stage of the event to display their vehicles and greet the Dakar family, in line with the ancient rally traditions.
On this occasion, Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz said: "I would like to express my happiness and pride in this historic moment we are living in with the announcement of the launch of the Dakar Rally in the Kingdom for the second year in a row.
"And in this regard I renew my sincere thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy prime minister and minister of defense who had a great role to the establishment of this great global event."
2021 Dakar Rally is the 43rd edition of the motorsport rally, which is considered the most dangerous rally in the world. It will witness over 500 participants who will compete in five categories — cars, motorcycles, quads, UTV vehicles and trucks. In the last category, 41 teams with two or three crew-members (driver, pilot and mechanic) take part.
Competitors will traverse a total of 7,646 kilometers (4,751 miles), of which 4,767km (2,962 miles) will be timed, signifying a small reduction compared to the 2020 race.
Across all classes, 295 vehicles are entered, a significant drop on the 342 that took part in 2020 and the lowest tally since the 1997 Dakar Rally, contested by 280 vehicles. Among the 501 participants will be 16 women, three more than a year ago.
As in previous years, the 2021 Dakar will feature a 'Marathon' stage, in which competitors will have to do without team assistance, covering stages seven and eight (Jan. 10-11) from Hail to Neom, with a bivouac in Sakaka.
The longest stage of the rally will be the fourth stage, running between Wadi Ad-Dawasir and Riyadh (813km, of which 337km are timed), while the special with the most kilometers will be the penultimate, between AlUla and Yanbu (511km timed).
In addition to a strict COVID-19 protocol involving several PCR tests before arriving in Saudi Arabia and in the days prior to the start of the rally, a 48-hour quarantine upon arrival and social distancing measures in the bivouac, the Dakar will have several new sporting features.
The main one being the introduction of an electronic road book (in the form of a tablet) for the elite drivers in cars, trucks and SSV. In addition, to continue to check that no one has a competitive advantage over others, the road book will be delivered 10 minutes before the start of all stages for cars, trucks and SSV, and 20 minutes before for motorcycles.
The Dakar has also worked with the FIM and the manufacturers since last March to try to improve safety after the deaths of motorcycle riders Paulo Goncalves and Edwin Straver in the 2020 edition. Thus, a mandatory airbag vest will be introduced for all participants in the motorcycle and quad classes, and a series of measures will be taken to reduce speeds. — SG


Clic here to read the story from its source.