NBK Group Qatar Baja 2005
FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, round 6
For immediate release
Monday, September 12th, 2005
QATAR BAJA OVERWHELMED WITH
ENTRY RESPONSE FROM EUROPE
Massive interest from Italy, UK, Spain and France;
New safety system for NBK Group Qatar Baja
DOHA (Qatar): The Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) have been overwhelmed with international interest in the NBK Group Qatar Baja 2005, the final round of the FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, taking place on November 23rd-26th.
Overseas demand for entries has been so excessive that the QMMF have been forced to restrict the number of European competitors permitted to start the all-desert encounter in Qatar.
~It is with regret that he have been forced to say no to some competitors this year,~ admitted Nasser Khalifa Al-Attiyah, President of the QMMF. ~To ensure that we provide the maximum safety for competitors, entries have been restricted to 15 motorcycles from each of the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain, with other entries expected from France, Germany and, of course, the Middle East region.
~We have also received a large number of car entries and at the last count we had no less than 10 from Italy and six from France and Spain. To make sure that these teams are safe in the desert we are also working closely with a French company, who supplies the Iritrack and Sentinel Safety System.~
This massive European contingent is likely to go head-to-head with a competitive number of Middle East teams, including some of the leading drivers, enduro riders and quad bikers in the region. Qatar’s newly-crowned FIA Middle East Rally Champion Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah is likely to be the man to beat in the car category as he makes last minute Dakar Rally preparations, while Dubai-based German Tim Trenker is keen to retain the motorcycle trophy he won last year after a gripping fight with Italy’s Oscar Polli.
This year’s Qatar Baja will be based at the Movenpick Hotel in Doha for the first time and begins with scrutineering and verification on the Doha Corniche between 07.00 hrs and 10.00 hrs on Thursday, November 24th.
The official start at 14.00 hrs on the Doha Corniche will be followed by a three-kilometre Prologue stage in the West Bay Lagoon area, north of Doha, at 14.30 hrs and a ceremonial welcome later that afternoon at around 17.00 hrs.
The opening two selective sections take place on Friday, November 25th, with teams heading out towards the Sealine area, south of Doha, to tackle a two-lap, 600 kms selective section across varied desert terrain in the south of the State of Qatar. There will be an overnight bivouac and official briefings at the Sealine centre, while the media office will be based at the Movenpick Hotel.
The third selective section takes place on Saturday, November 26th and this will be followed by the podium finish at 16.00 hrs on the Doha Corniche. An official gala dinner is being planned for later that evening.
Entries officially close on November 9th. For further information contact the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF), PO Box 8708, Doha, Qatar, Tel: + 974 4379752, Fax: + 974 4379761, E-mail: mohd.naeem@qmmf.com and info@qmmf.com.
Ends
For further media information:
Neil Perkins, NBK Group Qatar Baja 2005 Press Officer, NDP Publicity Services, NCH Building, Upper Bar, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 7EH, United Kingdom.
Tel: + (44) 1952 825078, Fax: + (44) 1952 825001, Mobile: + 44 7831 123153
E-mail: NDPPublicity@compuserve.com
www.ndp-publicity.com (press releases)