FIA Middle East Rally Champioinship

The event will be based at the Losail International Circuit, north of Doha, and takes place on January 22nd-24th, 2009.

Clerk of the course Elie Semaan has been forced to make minor changes to the route that was highly-acclaimed by competitors and FIA officials in January 2008, but the competitive action will again be centred around the deserts to the north of Doha over two days. In a total route of 618.90km, 259.60km will be competitive.

Special stages in the Losail and Timbak areas will be used for the opening leg on Friday, January 23rd, with three stages running twice, starting between 09.14hrs and 14.35hrs. There will be a further eight timed stages on Saturday, January 24th, with the route running around the Losail, Al-Khor and Ras Laffan areas of the Qatar desert.

Action on leg two is scheduled to get underway from 08.07hrs, with the final Losail special starting at 14.25hrs. The ceremonial finish is scheduled for 15.30hrs and post-event formalities will follow at the Losail International Circuit, while the official rally hotel will be the Movenpick Suites and Tower in Doha.

"We were given excellent feedback by teams and FIA officials last year when it came to our special stages," said Nasser Khalifa Al-Attiyah, President of the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF). "They were well defined, in excellent condition and all safety aspects were adhered to. Safety is an important factor on any event and we pride ourselves with our ability to run top class motor sport events in Qatar, even though we are always looking for ways to improve and progress."

Generous concessions and an assistance package are being offered to GCC and Middle Eastern entrants. International teams will receive free accommodation (room and breakfast) for six nights in a twin-bedded room for driver and co-driver. Competitors will be permitted to check in the designated rally hotel at noon on Monday, January 19th and must check out by noon on Sunday, January 25th.

GCC competitors will also receive cash assistance to the value of $500 USD for starting the rally and finishing the first three special stages. Other Middle East entrants will also receive a similar cash incentive. Entries for the event have now opened and will close for reduced fees on Thursday, January 1st. The final deadline for entrants will be Thursday, January 8th.

Previous winners

+1978	Harry Kallstrom (S)/Claes Billstam (S)	Datsun 160J SSS
+1983	Saeed Al Hajri (QA)/John Spiller (GB)	Opel Ascona 400
1984	Saeed Al-Hajri (QA)/John Spiller (GB)	Porsche 911 SC RS
1985	Saeed Al-Hajri (QA)/John Spiller (GB)	Porsche 911 SC RS
1986	Björn Waldegård (S)/Fred Gallagher (GB)	Toyota Celica Twin Cam Turbo
1987	Saeed Al Hajri (QA)/Ronan Morgan (IRL)	Porsche 911 SC RS
1988	Mohammed Ben Sulayem (GB)/Ronan Morgan (IRL)	Toyota Celica Twin Cam Turbo
1989	Saeed Al Hajri/Steve Bond (GB)	Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
1990	Mohammed Ben Sulayem (UAE)/Ronan Morgan (IRL)	Toyota Celica GT4
1991	Mohammed Ben Sulayem (UAE)//Ronan Morgan (IRL)	Toyota Celica GT4
1992	Saeed Al Hajri (QA)/Mike Corner (GB)	Toyota Celica GT4
1993	Nasser Khalifa Al Attiyah (QA)/Mubarak Al Hajri (QA)	Toyota Celica GT4
1994	Suhail Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum (UAE)/Khaled Malik (UAE)	Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
1995	Khalifa Al Motawi (QA)/Khaled Malik (UAE)	Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
1996	Mohammed Ben Sulayem (UAE)/Ronan Morgan (IRL)	Ford Escort RS Cosworth
1997	Mohammed Ben Sulayem (UAE)/Ronan Morgan (IRL)	Ford Escort RS Cosworth
1998	Mohammed Ben Sulayem (UAE)/Ronan Morgan (IRL)	Ford Escort WRC
1999	Nizar Al-Shanfari (OM)/Tom Steele (GB)	Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V
2000	Mohammed Ben Sulayem (UAE)/Ronan Morgan (IRL)	Ford Focus WRC
2001	Mohammed Ben Sulayem (UAE)/Khaled Zakaria (HKJ)	Ford Focus WRC
2002	Mohammed Ben Sulayem (UAE)/John Spiller (GB)	Ford Focus WRC
2003	Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah (QA)/Steve Lancaster (GB)	Subaru Impreza WRC
*2004	Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QA)/Chris Patterson (GB)	Subaru Impreza WRX STi ‘N’
2005	Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QA)/Chris Patterson (GB)	Subaru Impreza WRX STi ‘N’
2006	Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QA)/Chris Patterson (GB)	Subaru Impreza WRX STi ‘N’
2007	Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QA)/Chris Patterson (GB)	Subaru Impreza WRX STi ‘N’
2008	Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QA)/Chris Patterson (GB)	Subaru Impreza N14
2009	Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QA)/Tina Thörner (S)	Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X

+ non-MERC championship events