FIA Middle East Rally Champioinship

The Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) has confirmed that the QTEL Qatar International Rally will get the 2010 FIA Middle East Rally Championship underway on January 21st-23rd, 2010.

The event has been the traditional opening round of the series for several years and slick organisation by the Doha-based QMMF have given the event the reputation as the leading round of the prestigious regional rally series.

Under the Presidency of Nasser Khalifa Al-Attiyah, race officials have devised a challenging, yet compact, route consisting of gravel special stages in the Qatar deserts and the fact that the entire event is centred around the world-class facilities at the Losail International Circuit, north of Doha, adds to its international appeal.

Next year’s eight-round championship will also feature rallies in Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria, Cyprus and Dubai and championship officials hope that the 2010 series will feature new drivers and new teams.

Elie Semaan will work as clerk of the course for a fifth consecutive season. The experienced motor sport consultant is confident that he has again devised a challenging route format for the two-day, all-desert rally, which will start on Thursday, January 21st with scrutineering and documentation and feature two days of competitive action on January 22nd and 23rd.

“We are looking forward to getting the new rallying championship calendar underway in 2010,” enthused Nasser Khalifa Al-Attiyah. “Qatar is a strong supporter of rallying in the Middle East region and I was delighted that two Qatari drivers (Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah and Misfer Al-Marri) finished first and second in the 2009 championship, which finished in Dubai recently.

“At the QMMF we are always on the look out for ways of improving our rally and we are confident that the event will be well received by drivers from across the GCC and beyond.”

The QMMF is offering generous concessions and an assistance package to international entrants. Teams will be offered six nights’ free accommodation (room and breakfast) in one twin-bedded room for driver and co-driver. Crews will be able to check in on January 18th at noon and leave at noon on January 23rd. Entries have now opened and will close in early January 2010.

Competitors will be permitted to carry out a reconnaissance of the special stages on Tuesday, January 19th and Wednesday, January 20th, before leg one of the all-desert special stage event gets underway in the Qatar deserts on Friday, January 22nd.

For further information about the 2010 QTEL Qatar International Rally, contact Marie-Lou Cruz, Qatar Motor and Motor Cycle Federation (QMMF), PO Box 8708, Doha, Qatar, Tel: + 974 437 9884/9885, Fax: + 974 437 9761, E-mail: marielou.cruz@qmmf.com.qa and website: www.qmmf.com

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