KASLIK, LEBANON – The Automobile and Touring Club of Lebanon (ATCL) will organise the 43rd Rally of Lebanon on November 13th, 14th and 15th, under the patronage of the President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun.
The rally is round three of this year’s FIA Middle East Rally Championship, after the rallies of Oman and Cyprus. The total distance is 480.39km, including 192.30km over ten special stages, one of which is a super special stage.
Friday, November 13th
SS1 – Kaslik super special (2.52km): held inside the ATCL grounds in Kaslik from 6pm on Friday evening. The club will be closed from noon until midnight.
Crews then head to the free municipal car park in Byblos (Jbeil), where the first leg ends from 6.30pm, and the cars stay in parc fermé until Saturday’s restart at 8am.
Saturday, November 14th
The first car leaves the Byblos car park at 8am, heading towards Batroun and up to Bejdarfel and Ain Aya.
- SS2 – Ain Aya – Deir Billa (21.40km): from the bridge at Ain Aya up through Kfarhay, Bqesmaya, Kaftoun, Mejdel, Zakzouk, Watta Fares, Bziza and Chnata to Deir Billa. Road closed 7.30am – 10.30am.
- SS3 – Sourat – Dahr Abi Yaghi (26.12km): from the old Sourat junction up through Ftayhat, Zein, Assia, Mrah El-Hajj, Allali, Mhammarch, Mar Mama and El-Masrah to Dahr Abi Yaghi. Road closed 6.53am – 11.30am.
Crews then return via Bqaiaa, Derya, Jrane and the Madfoun highway to service in Byblos from 11.11am.
The third leg starts from Byblos at 11.54am, repeating both stages:
- SS4 – Ain Aya – Deir Billa (21.40km): road closed 11.09am – 1.09pm
- SS5 – Sourat – Dahr Abi Yaghi (26.12km): road closed 12.02pm – 3.02pm
After service in Byblos from 2.50pm, the cars enter parc fermé from 3.45pm, ending section one.
Sunday, November 15th
Section two starts at 7.15am from the Byblos car park, with crews heading towards Halat and Nahr Ibrahim.
- SS6 – Nahr Ibrahim – Mechane (15.42km): from Nahr Ibrahim up past the Bzhal junction and the Nahr Ibrahim power company to Fatri and the Bir El-Hit roundabout, finishing before the Mechane junction. Road closed 6.10am – 9.10am.
- SS7 – Hboub – Bintaael (21.30km): from Hboub up through Fidar Tahta, Fidar Faouqa, Mazraat El-Ain, Bechtlida, Hjoula, Birket Hjoula and Jerbta to Bintaael. Road closed 7.08am – 10.08am.
After service in Byblos from 9.26am, the cars restart towards Nahr Ibrahim from 10.21am:
- SS8 – Nahr Ibrahim – Mechane (15.42km): road closed 9.16am – 12.16pm
- SS9 – Hboub – Bintaael (21.30km): road closed 10.14am – 1.14pm
After a regroup in Byblos from 12.32pm, crews head back to Hboub from 1.32pm for the final test:
- SS10 – Hboub – Bintaael (21.30km): road closed 1.14pm – 3.17pm
The cars then drive via Halat, Nahr Ibrahim, Tabarja and Jounieh to the ATCL in Kaslik, arriving from 3pm to finish the rally, followed by the winners’ podium ceremony.
Strict health measures
Full details on media coverage and accreditation will be shared with journalists and photographers, in line with the strict coronavirus prevention measures set out by the FIA.
43rd Rally of Lebanon at a glance
- Dates: November 13th-15th, 2020
- Championship: FIA Middle East Rally Championship, round 3
- Total distance: 480.39km
- Competitive distance: 192.30km
- Special stages: 10, including the Kaslik super special
- Service: Byblos municipal car park
- Finish: ATCL, Kaslik