The International Lebanon Rally, the fourth round of the Middle East Rally Championship, will be flagged off from Beirut sea-front on August 28 at 7pm.The 796.21-km rally will be completed over four days and will conclude at the Automobile Touring Club of Lebanon (ATCL) headquarters at Jounieh on August 31.
While the rally will not see participation of Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah, Qatar will be represented by Khalifa al-Attiya, Abdullah al-Kuwari, Abdulaziz al-Kuwari and Nada Zaidan. Kuwait’s Mishari al-Zouferi and Lebanese veteran Roger Feghali will participate too.
Among those not participating in this round are UAE’s Khalid al-Qasimi and Abdullah al-Qasimi, Saudi Yazeed al-Rajhi and Kuwait’s Salah bin Eidan.
FIA vice president and Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation president Nasser Khalifa al-Attiyah said: “I completely trust in the abilities of Lebanon motorsports club. The organisers have the abilities to present a good show.”
On the security situation, al-Attiyah said, “We don’t have anything official on the status in Lebanon, or any aggressive reactions that may hit or affect the participants. So I think the event will succeed and the participants will continue their competitions to collect the points for the Middle East Rally Championship. I congratulate ATCL in advance because I know their skills and abilities well.”
Head of Organising Committee Fadi Oun said that there are no intentions to cancel the rally.