Saudi Arabia's new Sharqia Rally has attracted a bumper entry from some of the Middle East's leading rally drivers, with several teams opting to support the new event rather than make the trip to the Troodos Rally for the penultimate round of the FIA regional series this weekend. The three-day Sharqia Rally takes place in the Al-Khobar region on Nov. 11-13. With several of the regular teams in the FIA series no longer able to win the championship, it made sense to support an event in this region, rather than incur the costs of traveling to the Eastern Mediterranean. Obviously the likes of championship contenders Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah, Misfer Al-Marri, Nick Georgiou and Nicos Thomas are committed to the Troodos event, but officials at the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation (SAMF) are delighted with the potential turn-out for Saudi Arabia's maiden international special stage rally. The Kingdom will be particularly well represented with the likes of Farouk Ghurab, Saeed Al-Mori, Majed Al-Ghamdi, Mansour Al-Ghatani, Farhan Al-Shammer and Rajeh Al-Shammeri joining regional championship regulars Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Ahmed Al-Sabban on the entry list. Both the Al-Shammeris were front-runners in the Saudi Hail Baja round of the FIA International Cup for Bajas, but this will be their first attempt at an international stage rally. Al-Ghamdi enjoyed a successful start to his career with the Toyota Rav4 program several years ago and has become a regular face in regional rallying. He teams up with Italian co-driver Nicola Arena at the wheel of a Subaru Impreza. Arena is better known for his partnership with Jordan's Amjad Farrah, who is also present on the impressive entry list. The event is being held under the patronage of Prince Mohamed Bin Fahd Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Governor of the Eastern Province and the Chairman of the Higher Committee for the new Saudi Rally. “We are delighted to welcome so many international rally teams to the Eastern Province,” said Mishaal Al-Sudairy, President of the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation (SAMF). The event will be based in the Half Moon Bay area of Al-Khobar, which is easily accessible for overseas competitors from the Bahrain Causeway. Scrutineering takes place Tuesday at Automoto between Al-Khobar and Damman. This will be followed by a spectator stage at King Fahd Coastal City and the two days of desert competitive action will be on Wednesday and Thursday. __
