The 2007 Jordan Rally is set to become another important milestone as the Kingdom drives full speed towards hosting the region’s first FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2008.
Next month’s event – to be held from May 10-12 - was unveiled today (Thursday) at a stunning location on the banks of the Dead Sea which will welcome one of the biggest social and sporting events from March 28-30 next year. An event that Jordan has made staggering efforts to secure over the past three years.
With 18 timed special stages on brand new or improved routes, next month’s FIA Middle East Championship round will provide an appetizer for what the world can expect in a little under one year’s time. And it is a prospect that the Jordan motorsporting community has been waiting for half a century to host.
“It is important to put on a successful show to demonstrate to the FIA WRC family that we are all looking forward to hosting the biggest sporting occasion our country has ever seen,” said HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, Chairman of Jordan Motorsport which organises and manages motorsport within the Kingdom.
Up to 50 of the region’s leading drivers are expected, but extra hype has been generated with the expected presence of the world’s biggest WRC superstars including world champion Sebastien Loeb, who will carry out a recce two days prior to the rally in preparation for next year.
The 2007 routes were unveiled by clerk of the course Ziad Louza who added that they will all be reworked with more to be added after the rally in preparation for next year. Based at the Dead Sea for its two competitive days on May 11 and 12, the event will receive a colourful ceremonial launch on May 10 in the shadows of the King Hussein Ben Talal Mosque in Amman which is one of the most dazzling modern mosques in the world.
The action gets into gear the following day at the Dead Sea, bringing into play historical and biblical locations including the site of Jesus Christ’s Baptism and Mount Nebo from where Moses looked out across the Holy Land. The famous Dead Sea stage – the lowest location in the world at 400 metres below sea level - will also be used. Day Two takes the teams north through the Jordan Valley and into the Rumman Forests before returning for the Dead Sea stage in the evening. The finish point will be held in the grounds of the rally headquarters with the Dead Sea and Palestinian Hills providing a stunning backdrop.
The state-of-the-art facilities of the King Hussein Ben Talal Convention Centre will provide a world-class base for the event. The rally headquarters and media office will all be housed at the Centre which will also host the World Economic Forum the following week.
Jordan was awarded a round of the WRC by the FIA back in October and intends to unveil one of the world’s most unique and compact rallies in 2008.
