The Jordan Rally, round two of the 2019 FIA Middle East Rally Championship, starts at Abdali Boulevard in the heart of Amman on Thursday evening.
The ceremonial start from 19.15hrs gives spectators the chance to see the cars and drivers in the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom before the action moves to the winding gravel tracks of the Dead Sea and Jordan Valley on Friday and Saturday.
Jordan Motorsport officials have completed repairs and adjustments to the stages after recent bad weather, and a favourable forecast for the weekend sets up two days of classic rallying near the lowest point on earth.
Competitors praise the stages
Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah is the defending champion and a 12-time Jordan Rally winner. French co-driver Matthieu Baumel has won the event five times, but both are chasing a first win in their new Volkswagen Polo GTI R5.
Fresh from winning the recent Merzouga Rally in Morocco with Al-Attiyah driving a lightweight Can-Am Maverick X3, Baumel was impressed.
I am really surprised. Despite the weather, the organisers have done a very good job. All the tracks are well prepared. It is going to be a nice rally. I think we will beat the best times on some stages this year because the piste is well prepared.
Matthieu Baumel
Reigning MERC 2 champion Meshari Al-Thefiri of Kuwait also leads this year’s showroom category after winning in Qatar last month.
The stages are very good and the tracks are in perfect condition, not like last year when we had the late rain and it was very slippery. It is good for me. The goal is maximum points and maximum speed, flat out on the first loop, to kill off my rivals and to win again.
Meshari Al-Thefiri
Lebanon’s Henry Kahy is the defending FIA MERC 3 champion, and his Jordanian co-driver Musa Djiyerian was full of praise.
Full credit to the organisers. Amazing stages. You cannot even see that the stages were damaged at all. It will be flat out for us in the front-wheel drive category.
Musa Djiyerian
Recce went very well and then we had documentation today and then some testing. Henry is feeling confident with the notes and the car. Last year was his first time behind the wheel of the Škoda. After one year with the car, he is feeling good, especially here in Jordan. The weather forecast is good. We have missed the sun in Jordan in recent days…
Musa Djiyerian
Thursday
On Thursday attention turns to the ceremonial start at Abdali Boulevard. Several drivers attend the pre-event press conference on the start podium from 18.15hrs, and cars then cross the podium in reverse order from 19.15hrs.
The event is supported by Abdali Boulevard, Mountain Dew, Hala and Bliss FM.