eastwest
April 25th, 2008, 12:53 PM
source: Jordan times (http://www.jordantimes.com)
Engines rumble at the Dead Sea
Four-time world champion Sebastien Loeb of France and co-driver Daniel Elena of Monaco compete in the Citroen C4 during the private stage of the first day of the FIA World Rally Championship near the Dead Sea on Thursday (Reuters photo by Ali Jarekji)
Four-time world champion Sebastien Loeb of France and co-driver Daniel Elena of Monaco compete in the Citroen C4 during the private stage of the first day of the FIA World Rally Championship near the Dead Sea on Thursday (Reuters photo by Ali Jarekji)
http://www.jordantimes.com/img/2500/2534.jpg
By Roufan Nahhas
DEAD SEA - The real action of the Jordan Rally, the fifth round of the FIA WRC, kicks into high gear on Friday, unleashing the power of 55 professional world rally drivers headed by French rallying superstar Sébastien Loeb - chasing a record-breaking 40th career WRC win - and his Finnish archrivals Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala, who drive for the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team.
Loeb met with fans across the country on Wednesday at Jordan’s exclusive dealer for Citroen and sent a message to all young Jordanians: “Safety issues are very important to all and we should always follow the safety regulations in our path.”
“Driving a rally car which is equipped with high standard safety equipment is different than driving a normal car because rally track is different from normal roads,” he added.
Loeb stressed on the need to drive carefully on all roads and wished everyone safe driving during the event.
The event marks Loeb’s first-ever appearance on a rally in the Middle East, but he remains one of the most competitive of the gravel surface drivers and will be confident that he can match and beat Hirvonen and Latvala, who is also making his first appearance in Jordan in a Ford Focus RS.
Subaru’s Chris Atkinson lies third in the FIA Drivers’ Championship standings, a mere three points behind Hirvonen, and the Australian and Impreza-driving colleague Petter Solberg could get a first victory for the Subaru World Rally Team since Wales Rally GB in 2005.
Solberg and co-driver Philip Mills were guests of Jordan Motorsport at the country’s candidate event in 2007 and were permitted to view some of the special stages last year. Mills was a winner of the Jordan Rally in 1994 and his experience of the terrain could be crucial as the Prodrive team chase a much-needed victory.
Meanwhile, the 2004 Middle East rally champion UAE’s Khaled Al Qassemi, driving for BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team, will be focusing on another win for his team in the Production Car World Rally Championship (PWRC).
BP Ford has won the last two titles in this category.
“I know Jordan Rally very well and I believe that I have the advantage over others due to the fact that I won the rally last year,” Qassemi said.
“There is something special when driving in a rally like this one as the more you put pressure on the car the possibility of retiring early comes closer. So the best way is to adopt a safe strategy,” he added.
Qassemi stated that he feels so proud to see the WRC coming to Jordan.
“I am very proud to see that the WRC has arrived to Jordan and at the same time proud to be an Arab driving for an international team because we are able to do anything with our skills and dedication,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jordan’s Amjad Farrah, who had an accident in which his car flipped during practice in the Rumman area, said he would be ready.
“Thank God nothing serious happened and we are working on the car now to be ready for the event,” Farrah told The Jordan Times.
“I am blessed to have friends who care and treat us all as one team and thanks to Ammar Hijazi who stepped in to provide me with a car similar to the one I had,” he added.
The rally is based at the Dead Sea, 50km southwest of Amman and at 427 metres below sea level, the lowest point on earth. The stages will run through historical and biblical sites around the Jordan Valley and Rumman forest, and all except one are fully or partially below sea level. World famous areas including the Baptism Site and Mount Nebo will be part of the rally route.
Each day comprises two identical loops of tests with some roads being used four times over two separate legs. The final leg is the longest and contains a sting in the tail with two passes over the twisty 41.45km Jordan River stage. Drivers tackle 22 stages covering 359.26km in a route of 983.44km.
On Friday, drivers will start at 8:00am and will be heading to Suwayma 1, Mahes 1, Mount Nebo 1, Maain 1 and back covering a total distance of 115.18km under the scorching sun.
The longest trail on the first day is Mahes 1 which totals 20km.
The event fired into life at the Dead Sea on Thursday, when all teams attended the traditional ceremonial start. Traditional Arabic entertainment followed by the presentation of all the drivers and the afternoon’s festivities concluded with a spectacular firework display on the shores of the Dead Sea.
Engines rumble at the Dead Sea
Four-time world champion Sebastien Loeb of France and co-driver Daniel Elena of Monaco compete in the Citroen C4 during the private stage of the first day of the FIA World Rally Championship near the Dead Sea on Thursday (Reuters photo by Ali Jarekji)
Four-time world champion Sebastien Loeb of France and co-driver Daniel Elena of Monaco compete in the Citroen C4 during the private stage of the first day of the FIA World Rally Championship near the Dead Sea on Thursday (Reuters photo by Ali Jarekji)
http://www.jordantimes.com/img/2500/2534.jpg
By Roufan Nahhas
DEAD SEA - The real action of the Jordan Rally, the fifth round of the FIA WRC, kicks into high gear on Friday, unleashing the power of 55 professional world rally drivers headed by French rallying superstar Sébastien Loeb - chasing a record-breaking 40th career WRC win - and his Finnish archrivals Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala, who drive for the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team.
Loeb met with fans across the country on Wednesday at Jordan’s exclusive dealer for Citroen and sent a message to all young Jordanians: “Safety issues are very important to all and we should always follow the safety regulations in our path.”
“Driving a rally car which is equipped with high standard safety equipment is different than driving a normal car because rally track is different from normal roads,” he added.
Loeb stressed on the need to drive carefully on all roads and wished everyone safe driving during the event.
The event marks Loeb’s first-ever appearance on a rally in the Middle East, but he remains one of the most competitive of the gravel surface drivers and will be confident that he can match and beat Hirvonen and Latvala, who is also making his first appearance in Jordan in a Ford Focus RS.
Subaru’s Chris Atkinson lies third in the FIA Drivers’ Championship standings, a mere three points behind Hirvonen, and the Australian and Impreza-driving colleague Petter Solberg could get a first victory for the Subaru World Rally Team since Wales Rally GB in 2005.
Solberg and co-driver Philip Mills were guests of Jordan Motorsport at the country’s candidate event in 2007 and were permitted to view some of the special stages last year. Mills was a winner of the Jordan Rally in 1994 and his experience of the terrain could be crucial as the Prodrive team chase a much-needed victory.
Meanwhile, the 2004 Middle East rally champion UAE’s Khaled Al Qassemi, driving for BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team, will be focusing on another win for his team in the Production Car World Rally Championship (PWRC).
BP Ford has won the last two titles in this category.
“I know Jordan Rally very well and I believe that I have the advantage over others due to the fact that I won the rally last year,” Qassemi said.
“There is something special when driving in a rally like this one as the more you put pressure on the car the possibility of retiring early comes closer. So the best way is to adopt a safe strategy,” he added.
Qassemi stated that he feels so proud to see the WRC coming to Jordan.
“I am very proud to see that the WRC has arrived to Jordan and at the same time proud to be an Arab driving for an international team because we are able to do anything with our skills and dedication,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jordan’s Amjad Farrah, who had an accident in which his car flipped during practice in the Rumman area, said he would be ready.
“Thank God nothing serious happened and we are working on the car now to be ready for the event,” Farrah told The Jordan Times.
“I am blessed to have friends who care and treat us all as one team and thanks to Ammar Hijazi who stepped in to provide me with a car similar to the one I had,” he added.
The rally is based at the Dead Sea, 50km southwest of Amman and at 427 metres below sea level, the lowest point on earth. The stages will run through historical and biblical sites around the Jordan Valley and Rumman forest, and all except one are fully or partially below sea level. World famous areas including the Baptism Site and Mount Nebo will be part of the rally route.
Each day comprises two identical loops of tests with some roads being used four times over two separate legs. The final leg is the longest and contains a sting in the tail with two passes over the twisty 41.45km Jordan River stage. Drivers tackle 22 stages covering 359.26km in a route of 983.44km.
On Friday, drivers will start at 8:00am and will be heading to Suwayma 1, Mahes 1, Mount Nebo 1, Maain 1 and back covering a total distance of 115.18km under the scorching sun.
The longest trail on the first day is Mahes 1 which totals 20km.
The event fired into life at the Dead Sea on Thursday, when all teams attended the traditional ceremonial start. Traditional Arabic entertainment followed by the presentation of all the drivers and the afternoon’s festivities concluded with a spectacular firework display on the shores of the Dead Sea.