• UAE’s Al-Helai, Al-Herais and Al-Ketbi set for Hail desert rally showdown
• Team Saluki enters UAE-based Mark Powell in Saudi Arabian event
Qatar’s Sheikh Hamed Bin Eid Al-Thani (pictured at last year’s Baja GB) will take part in the Hail event with a Nissan Patrol.
SAUDI ARABIA HAIL BAJA (Hail Rally 2008…The Great Nufud Challenge), February 11th-14th, 2008 2008 FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, round 1 of 6
Qatar’s Sheikh Hamed Bin Eid Al-Thani, the 1993 FIA Middle East rally champion, is set to take part in the Saudi Arabian Hail Baja, which takes place under the patronage of HRH Prince Saud Bin Abdul Mohsen Bin Abdul Aziz, Governor of Hail, President of the Supreme Commission for Hail Development and the Head of the Supreme Commission of the Hail Rally, on February 11th-14th.
Doha-based Al-Thani and co-driver George Sarayan will take part in the three-day event in a powerful Nissan Patrol, as the Qatari prepares for an attempt at this season’s FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies. Sheikh Hamed is also tackling the UAE national rally series again this season and is looking at taking part in other select events. In 2006 he took part in several rounds of the FIA Baja Cup, including a superb third overall in the Baja GB through the Welsh forests.
"I really enjoy taking part in long-distance desert rallies," said Al-Thani, who was a spectator at the Qatar International Rally last weekend. "I would like to take part in the World Cup this time and the Saudi event should be a great start to the season for my team. The Nissan is strong and powerful and should be an ideal car for the conditions we will face in Saudi Arabia."
Temperatures have dropped below zero at night in the Hail region in recent days, but that has not deterred several UAE-based teams from entering Saudi Arabia’s biggest ever motorsport event, which looks set to attract 50 teams when entries close later today (Tuesday).
Leading the way is Yayha Al-Helai - the UAE star of recent UAE Desert Challenges in his Liberty Chevrolet Pick-Up. Al-Helai has competed against the leading factory teams on several occasions and teams up with co-driver Khaled Al-Kendi in Saudi Arabia.
Abdullah Al-Herais took part in the event last year and returns in 2008 with co-driver Abdulrahman Bin Zayed. Al-Herais is a regular on the UAE rallying scene and is confident that he can reach the top five in Hail. Abdullah Al-Ketbi and Saeed Al-Ketbi and their respective co-drivers Ahmed Malik and Suhail Al-Ali will also represent the UAE.
Dubai’s Team Saluki has entered the UAE-based Briton Mark Powell in a Castrol EDGE-supported Buggy in which he won his class in the UAE Desert Challenge last year. Powell has taken part in the final round of the FIA World Cup on a number of occasions and taken several top 10 results in a powerful V8-engined Land Rover Defender.
The switch to a two-wheel drive Buggy has given the Briton the opportunity to benefit from a lighter and more agile chassis for the Saudi Arabian dunes, where he teams up with Lebanese co-driver Mario Mitri for the first time. The team has attracted further support from Serck, GAC and Trading Enterprises.
"Saudi Arabia has tremendous potential for cross country rallying with its wide open spaces and tremendous landscape," enthused Powell. It is a country that is just waiting to put on a rally which equals any other
international event. The support from the organisers for our entry has been second to none and we're looking forward to two fantastic days in the sands of the Kingdom. The only drawback we may experience is the unseasonal cold snap that they are experiencing - we can't find thermal underwear in Dubai!"
Team Saluki’s Mark Powell is looking forward to next month’s Hail Saudi Baja. The car is pictured taking a class win in last year’s UAE Desert Challenge.
A fifth UAE entry has been placed for Matar Al-Mansouri and Arif Bin Mohammed, while Lebanese drivers Fady Melki and Emil Khneisser and co-drivers Richard Houne and Mohab Mahrous are also heading for the Prince Sultan Center in Hail next month. Top Lebanese co-driver Joseph Mattar will co-drive for Majed Ghamdi, while the non-GCC entry is boosted by the German pairing of Wolfgang Wels and Carsten Sodemann.
The ceremonial takes place at the Prince Sultan Center in Hail on Tuesday, February 12th at 2pm, before teams tackle a timed super special stage at 15.30hrs. The first desert leg will take place on Wednesday, February 13th, while the second and final leg of the 2008 Hail Baja will start at 09.00hrs on Thursday, February 14th and reach a conclusion at 15.30hrs.
Further information about the event is available from the Saudi Motor Sport Committee, PO Box 87881, Riyadh 11652, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Tel: + 9661 477 1034, Fax: + 9661 477 1050 and from Rami Atwa, E-mail: ram_atwa@yahoo.com , www.saudimotorsport.com
• Czech, Hungarian, Russian and Dutch teams enter Saudi Arabian event• Defending Hail Baja champion Rajeh Al-Shammeri set to return in 2008
Saudi Arabia’s Rajeh Al-Shammeri is set to return to ... mehr
- Identical, award winning, T1 McRae Enduro rally cars
- Four European Bajas
- Free Tyres on every event
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The McRae Enduro rally car won the "Idea of the Year" at the Autocar Awards ceremony in London.
The honour was announced by Chas Hallett, Autocar's editor, at a ceremony in Westminster to an audience of 480 motor industry leaders and celebrities from around the world. Christopher Bibb, the co ... mehr
:: Identical, award-winning, T1 McRae Enduro rally cars
:: Four European Bajas
:: Free tyres on every event
New for 2008 in the world of Cross Country, is the Pirelli Trofeo. Based around the award winning, all-new, T1 diesel-powered McRae Enduro rally car, this new, ... mehr
"Amaury Sport Organisation" (A.S.O.)-Chef Patrice Clerc hat es derzeit nicht leicht. Von der französischen Presse musste er sich vergangene Woche Fragen gefallen lassen, ob der Sportveranstalter noch ernst zu nehmen sei. Denn die Absage der Dakar ist nach den Doping-Problemen bei der Fahrradveranstaltung "Tour de France" der zweite grosse Rückschlag für das Unternehmen. ... mehr
Dakar Rallye Veranstalter A.S.O. soll zwei "Ersatz"-Events planen
Im Wettbewerb um einen neuen Austragungsort der in diesem Jahr wegen potentieller Terrordrohungen auf Drängen der französischen Regierung abgesagten Rallye Dakar hat sich nun erneut das Land Ungarn zu Wort gemeldet.
Wie der Vertreter des "Dakar"-Veranstalters "Amaury Sport Organisation" (A.S. ... mehr
Date Venue
April 12/13 Baden Hall, Staffordshire
June 7/8 TBA
June 28/29 Castle O’er, Scotland
August 16/17 TBA
Sept 13/14 Radnor, Mid-Wales
November 7/8/9 Seven Sisters, Glynneath, South Wales
www.marches4x4.com ... mehr
2008 MSA BRITISH CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP
• Six events from April to November for off-road competitors
• Control tyre options introduced for 2008 cross-country teams
Competitors taking part in rounds of this year’s MSA British Cross-Country Champi ... mehr
Während die Absage der Dakar durch den Veranstalter A.S.O. die französische Rally-Raid Szene in eine tiefe Krise stürzt, sind die international und deutsch-organisierten Wüstenrallys nicht in Gefahr. Einhellig verkünden die Veranstalter der deutschen Wüstenrallys "Libya Rally Raid" (März), Tuareg-Rally (April), Grand Erg (Mai) und Erg Oriental (Oktober), das die Rallys allesamt w ... mehr
• New Aberystwyth base for Britain’s only FIA international off-road event
• Centralised servicing and new route format for mid-Wales stage bonanza
Czech driver Miroslav Zapletal won last year’s Baja GB and looks set to return in 2008.
BAJA GB ... mehr
Robby Gordon, driver of the No. 7 Jim Beam Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, was scheduled to compete in the Dakar Rally this week until the race was cancelled due to terrorist threats. Gordon spoke about the cancellation prior to the first day of testing at Daytona International Speedway.
ROBBY GORDON – No. 7 Jim Beam Ford Fusion – "From the time Homest ... mehr
30. Rallye Dakar 2008 abgesagt - Der Terror darf nicht siegen
Vorbereitet waren sie alle sie sehr gut, die Teams aus aller Welt auf zwei Rädern, auf vier Rädern und auch die dicken Boliden der LKW-Klasse. Aber 2008 gab es leider schon v ... mehr
2008 Euromilhoes Dakar Rally - cancellation
On behalf of every member of the AlgoDyne Green Power Racing and X-raid team, I would like to express my support for the unfortunate cancellation of the 2008 Euromilhoes Dakar Rally.
The organising team at the Amaury Sports Organisation (ASO) had to make a very difficult decision, but we must all respect the fac ... mehr
La 30ème édition du Dakar devait être une fête, celle de la plus mythique des courses de rallye raid. Mais la fête a tourné court ce matin à Lisbonne après l’annonce faite par ASO, organisateur de l’épreuve, d’annuler l’édition 2008. De réelles menaces terroristes pesaient en effet sur la course lors de sa traversée du continent africain.
Afin de parer à tout incident et ... mehr
While registering disappointment in the cancellation of the Dakar 2008, KTM stands firmly behind the decision of the organizers not to go ahead following threats from terrorist groups to disrupt the rally.
This, the recent murder of innocent tourists and the current climate of political unrest in parts of Africa, are all factors that were taken into account, a s ... mehr
• Veranstalter A.S.O. sieht Sicherheit der Rallye Dakar nicht gewährleistet
• Mitsubishi Team seit 2001 bei der Dakar ungeschlagen
Die Rallye Dakar, die am 5. Januar in Lissabon (Portugal) gestartet werden sollte, ist abgesagt. Die Organ ... mehr
1991 - Paris Dakar - 9th stage between Tillia and Gao when Charles Cabannes one of the Citroen assistance driver was shot as he was crossing a village. Consequently the two next stages had been suspended. The attacker was never found.
1992 - Paris Le Cap Tchad rebels where blackmailing the rallye and the 7th stage between NGuimi and NDjamena was cancelled and the race con ... mehr
This year's Dakar Rally has been cancelled because security concerns. Today in Lisbon, one day prior to the start, A.S.O. (Amaury Sport Organisation), officially cancelled the 30th edition of the Lisbon-Dakar Rallye.
Although Dakar Rally director Etienne Lavigne has met with Mauritanian and French officials and obtained guarantees of increased security along this year's r ... mehr
The 2008 Dakar rally has been cancelled just one day before the 30th edition of the historic competition was due to start in Lisbon, Portugal.
The late move was initiated over security concerns with at least eight of the fifteen stages passing through Mauritania in western Africa. An announcement issued by the event organisers A.S.O today stated that:
" ... mehr
Nach verschiedenen Gesprächen mit der französischen Regierung – insbesondere dem Außenminister – und angesichts seiner dringenden Empfehlungen haben die Veranstalter der Rallye Dakar die Entscheidung getroffen, die Auflage 2008 der Rallye, die vom 5. bis 20. Januar zwischen Lissabon und der senegalesischen Hauptstadt Dakar ausgetragen werden sollte, abzusagen.
Angesichts ... mehr
Die Rallye Dakar wird aufgrund von Terrordrohungen abgesagt!
- Aufgrund der Gefährdung französische Staatsbürger bleibt der A.S.O. keine andere Wahl
- Raphael Sperrer ist bestürzt, gibt sich aber zurückhaltend und respektiert die Entscheidung
Um 13:00 Uhr wurde aus Gerüchten eine handfeste, schockierende Tatsache: Dem Veranstalter, der franz ... mehr
• Event officials introduce minor changes to 2007 desert route
SAUDI ARABIA HAIL BAJA (Hail Rally 2008…The Great Nufud Challenge), February 11th-14th, 20082008 FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, round 1 of 6
Russian Boris Gadas ... mehr
Probably the Dakar Rally 2008 will be totally cancelled because of Terror-warnings in Mauretania where four French tourists were killed last month.
Also some officials of the work-teams confirmed to reporters from marathonrally.com, that the Rally will be cancelled definetely at 12:00 CET. "This information is 99%" said one member of a workteam Crew in a conversation. Off ... mehr
The last day of the technical scrutineering and administrative checks opens on the arrival of a former Dakar winner Kenjiro Shinozuka. If the Japanese cannot pretend - this year - to add a new title to his list, today’s program forsees the arrival of a significant number of ambitious drivers in the car category.
In the order of arrival in Belém, the BMW X-Raid with Al At ... mehr
While a great many people across the world ate, drank and relaxed over the end of year festive period a select group of well-trained and courageous sportsmen made last minute checks and nervously counted the hours until the day they had to travel to Lisbon, Portugal on January 5th.
The 30th edition of the Dakar rally sees the largest entry list yet of 540 teams using mot ... mehr
Blue has been replaced by orange, a truly natural color for the Dutch De Rooy father and son team. Forced to quit anticipatively last year, the Dutch truckers are coming back with the ambition to win the Dakar. "We are highly confident, says son Gerard.
It will be a to ... mehr
The organisers of the Dakar have taken into account the declarations of the French Government recommending French citizens not to go to Mauritania on the occasion of the rally.
In order to comprehend the situation, they will contact the French and Mauritanian governing authorities to get information on new elements that might have motivated this communication despite the ... mehr
Ein letzter Blick auf die Sehenswürdigkeiten von Lissabon, dann geht’s los
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Die Rallye Dakar live auf www.volkswagen-motorsport.com
Wenn die Volkswagen Teams vom 05. bis zum 20. Januar 2008 auf den harten und staubigen Wüsten-Pisten der Rallye Dakar um den Sieg kämpfen, sind Rallye-Fans jederzeit bestens informiert: Unter [extern=www.volkswagen-motorsport.com]www.volkswagen-motorspo ... mehr
Noch 2 Tage bis zur 30. Rallye Dakar
Unbarmherzig wird die Uhr weiter laufen, vom Start der Rallye Dakar am 05. Januar in Lissabon bis zum Ziel am 20. Januar in Dakar. Wer am wenigsten Zeit verliert, beispielsweise durch Festfahren im Sand oder Navigationsfehler, ... mehr
Will Carlos Sainz’s third participation be the right one? The two times world champion declares that his aim is not to win stages but to win the Dakar.
How did you analyze and sort out the mechanical problems you had last year? ... mehr
Winner in 2006, the Catalan pilot lost the last Dakar in the antepenultimate stage. A navigation error and a fall deprived him from a second victory. He comes back with the exact same ambition and with the title of 2007 Rally World Champion up his sleeve.
Apart from the disappointment of the last Dakar, 2007 was a great year…
I am very ... mehr
The aim: a record. After having had to quit last year, the Czar Vladimir Chagin, commander in chief of the Kamaz army is back in Lisbon more motivated than ever.
The Russian firmly intends to steal his crown back from Hans Stacey, and reach the legendary record of Karel Loprais, i.e. 6 victories in the truck category of the trickiest of all rally raids.
... mehr
The second day of technical scrutineering and administrative checks is starting at the Cultural Center in Belem and it will certainly be a busy one. Only about 10 vehicles that were not able to get to Lisbon on time yesterday delayed their round of checks by a day.
In the morning the highlight will be around 10:00 AM with the arrival on site of the Mitsubishi armada with ... mehr
A few centuries ago, the Tagus estuary was already an invitation to travel and discover. In front of the Hyeronimites Monastery, a huge monument pays tribute to the navigators who were the pride and joy of the country, like Vasco de Gama or Ferdinand Magellan. It’s in t ... mehr
Their eyes bright with envy, there were many kids watching this morning the strange ballet of the first race cars, bikes and trucks arriving in Lisbon. For the children and their parents, it was about time for the Lisboa Dakar Village to open its doors; this is an entertaining place where competitors are introduced between two scrutineering sessions before the big start.
... mehr
Safety: 10 minutes to Review the Basics
When the wind blows in the desert and brings the dust back towards the right, where does a biker need to ride when he has been warned that a car is about to pass him? Easy! Well... not really if you listen to the people in charge of the Sentinel system, who have established their HQ in the administrative checks tent. So ... mehr
BFGoodrich genießt bei Teams und Fahrern höchstes Vertrauen Anpassen des Luftdrucks schöpft das Optimum der Reifen aus Enge Zusammenarbeit als Basis des Erfolgs
Die Reifen bei der Rallye Dakar - ein ... mehr
