2009 NBK Qatar International Rally
FIA Middle East Rally Championship, round 1
For immediate release
Monday, December 1st, 2008
NBK QATAR INTERNATIONAL RALLY SET TO GET
2009 MIDDLE EAST RALLY SERIES UNDERWAY
·Generous incentives available to overseas rally teams
DOHA (Qatar): The Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) has confirmed that the 2009 NBK Qatar International Rally will be the opening round of the 2009 FIA Middle East Rally Championship. The event will be based at the Losail International Circuit, north of Doha, and will take place on January 22nd-24th, 2009.
Qatar has traditionally hosted the first round of the popular regional rally series, which will feature eight rounds in 2009 and new events in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, combined with other regular rounds of the series in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus and Dubai.
The Qatar event will be run by the QMMF, under the presidency of Nasser Khalifa Al-Attiyah, with Bahrain’s Elie Semaan retaining his place as clerk of the course for a fourth consecutive season.
"We are delighted to be hosting the opening round of the 2009 FIA Middle East Championship," said Nasser Khalifa Al-Attiyah. "Our event was well received by competitors, FIA officials and members of the media in 2008 and we look forward to maintaining our high standard and organising a safe and challenging rally to get the new season of Middle East motor sport underway."
Qatar organisers will offer generous concessions and an assistance package to GCC and other Middle Eastern entrants. International teams will receive free accommodation (room and breakfast) for six nights in a twin-bedded room for driver and co-driver. Competitors will be permitted to check in the designated rally hotel at noon on Monday, January 19th and must check out by noon on Sunday, January 25th.
GCC competitors will also receive cash assistance to the value of $500 USD for starting the rally and finishing the first three special stages. Other Middle East entrants will also receive a similar cash incentive.
Entries for the event have now opened and will close in early January 2009.
Competitors will be permitted to carry out a reconnaissance of the special stages on Tuesday, January 20th and Wednesday, January 21st, before leg one of the all-desert special stage event gets underway in the Qatar deserts on Friday, January 23rd. Competitive action is expected to finish on Saturday afternoon (January 24th) and will be followed by the official podium finishing ceremony at the Losail circuit.
For further information about the 2009 NBK Qatar International Rally, contact the Qatar Motor and Motor Cycle Federation (QMMF), PO Box 8708, Doha, Qatar, Tel: + 974 437 9884/9885, Fax: + 974 437 9761, E-mail: info@qmmf.com and website: www.qmmf.com
Ends
Neil Perkins, NDP Publicity Services, International Press Officer, 2009 NBK Qatar International Rally, UK Mobile: + 44 7831 123153, E-mail: NDPPublicity@compuserve.com
www.ndp-publicity.com (press releases)