The Saudi Arabian Motor Federation (SAMF) has confirmed that the route for next month's Saudi Arabia Hail Baja will feature minor changes and improvements, but is based upon the successful format that was so well received by competitors in 2009. This year's opening round of the 2010 FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas takes place on Feb. 16-18 under the patronage of Prince Saud Bin Abdul Mohsen Bin Abdul Aziz, Governor of Hail, President of the Supreme Commission for Hail Development and the Head of the Supreme Commission of the Hail Rally. According to Mishaal Al-Sudairy, the President of the SAMF, the total distance of this year's event is 834km, with 509km being run on selective sections through the An Nufud desert in the north-central region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Road sections will total 325km. “We have made around 15% changes to the first stage and modified the start of the second stage, but the rest is similar,” admitted Al-Sudairy. The SAMF runs Saudi Arabia's premier off-road motor sport event as a partnership with the Supreme Commission for Hail Development. The organizing committee has now agreed an exciting deal with Toyota to be the official car for the Saudi Hail Baja and Abdul Latif Jameel, the Toyota dealer, is the diamond sponsor for this year's rally. The exciting sponsorship tie-in was announced recently in Saudi Arabia by Prince Abdullah Bin Khaled Bin Abdullah Al-Saud, the deputy of the Supreme Commission for Hail Development, Mishaal Al-Sudairy and Faisal Abdullah, Vice President of Abdul Latif Jameel (ALJ) Toyota. “I would like to thank the Supreme Commission for Hail Development for their invaluable ongoing support and partnership to enable us to run the Hail Baja,” added Al-Sudairy. “I would also like to welcome Toyota on board as a valuable sponsor for this year's Baja.” Faisal Abdullah also confirmed that ALJ-Toyota has its own Toyota Rally Team Saudi Arabia and will participate in the Saudi Arabia Hail Baja using Toyota FJ Cruisers. Two versions of the new Toyota have been developed – a Toyota FJ Cruiser Proto and a Toyota FJ Cruiser Racer. Saleh Al-Saleh will drive the Saudi Arabian-built FJ Cruiser Racer with co-driver Amr Al-Refai. The Toyota FJ Cruiser Proto has been built in Europe, specifically for events like the Saudi Hail Baja. Competitive action gets underway with a timed Prologue stage on Feb. 16. Legs two and three will run through the An Nafud desert to the north and west of Hail on Feb. 17 and 18. __
