Saleh Fareed

Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH — The exciting new Jeddah Rally was officially launched at a press conference here Tuesday afternoon.



The three-day Jeddah Rally has now been confirmed to run from Jan. 30–Feb. 1, 2014.



The press conference for Saudi Arabia’s latest cross-country motor sport event was held at the Governorate Conference Hall here and was attended by Prince Sultan Bin Bandar Al-Faisal, head of the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation (SAMF) and the general supervisor of Jeddah Rally, and Abdullah Bakhashab, head of the event’s Executive Committee.



Prince Mishaal Bin Majed, Governor of Jeddah, is the head of Jeddah Rally’s Higher Organizing Committee.



The off-road event will run along a competitive route of approximately 500km, with the selective sections being as long as 250km in length. The event will start from the picturesque Abhur Corniche in Jeddah and the second and third legs will be centered around the north-east of King Abdullah Economical City in Al-Biraika area.



Up to 30 cars will be permitted to race in the FIA T1 and T2 classes, in addition to a maximum of 20 motorcycles in various categories. There will also be space for a maximum of two T4 trucks.



Prince Sultan expressed his gratitude to Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Governor of the Makkah Region, for his support and also sent a cable of thanks to different government departments for their valuable role in making the event possible.



Abdullah Bakhashab was delighted with the event’s seal of royal approval. “We will exert all our efforts, dedication and commitment to honor the Makkah Region with a distinctive rally in compliance with the full support and guidance of our governors and the cooperation of all committees, governmental bodies and the private sector. We will now make efforts to attract the top world rally heroes to join the event.”



The Jeddah Rally logo takes its identity from Jeddah’s old mud gate, which symbolizes Jeddah’s deep-rooted heritage.