FIA Middle East Rally Champioinship

The Middle East Rally Championship starting 2007 season in Qatar, with first round of MERC, the NBKS Qatar International Rally, which schedule in February 15th to 17th.

With the cancellation of UAE International Rally scheduled in January, Qatar will be the opening round, in a revamped seven rounds championship this season.

Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) starting his international calendar in 2007 with the international rally, mid February, before going to international motorbikes event one week later with World Superbike/Supersport Championship, and World MotoGP beginning of March.

"It gives me great pleasure to welcome with every one to the 2007 NBK Group Qatar International Rally. And it's also pleasure for Qatar to host the opening round of Middle East rally championship this year. We are proud to be associated with the championship which is attracting an increasing number of competitors in recent years." Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Attiyah, President of Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation (QMMF).

Motor Sport in Qatar has in the past year become one of the country’s major sporting activities. In the past 12 months we have run both the first Moto GP and Superbike GP to have taken place in the region. The 2006 Qatar Rally was an outstanding success. At a national level the sport is also growing, a six round National Championship running this year along with a National Sprint series which has attracted many new drivers into the sport

This year’s rally sees many innovations. The Rally HQ will be based at the Inter Continental Hotel, the main service park at the Losail International Circuit and the rally start and finish at the QMMF headquarters. We look forward to the rally enjoying the superb facilities that this venue has to offer.

The rally HQ will open in Inter Continental Hotel on Monday, February 12th. Pre-event press conference scheduled at 14:00 PM in rally press room at Inter Continental Hotel, following rally scrutneering on Thursday, February 15th.

The rally contains 16 special stages, runs on the north of the capital, Doha, with total distance 617 km (242 km of specials). Start and finish ramp will be in Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation HQ in Doha. The surface of all special stages is loose gravel

First leg starts on Friday, February 16th, for eight selective stages, total leg distance 283 km (118 km of special stages).

The second and final leg to runs on Saturday, February 17th, for eight selective stages, with total leg distance 333 km (124 km of special stages).

This event is organized by Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation (QMMF), sponsored by NBK Group... "NBK Group have been involved in rallying at all levels throughout the world and their support for our events is most welcome." QMMF President, Nasser Bin Khalifa Al-Attiyah.