KASLIK, LEBANON – The Automobile and Touring Club of Lebanon (ATCL) has announced the 45th Coral Rally of Lebanon, to be held on September 15, 16 and 17, 2023. The official announcement came at a press conference at the club’s Kaslik headquarters attended by ATCL president lawyer Elie Assaf; board member and motorsport committee head Imad Lahoud; board members Sheikh Nabil El Khazen and Elian Hobeiche; national sports committee director Sleiman Khattar; rally office director Gaby Kraiker; organising committee chairman Serge Tchopourian; clerk of the course lawyer Ziad Jammous; Lebanese Red Cross representative Alexis Nehme; rally officials, sponsors and the media.
Assaf
After the national anthem, Assaf spoke about the ATCL’s role in organising motorsport events for many decades under FIA supervision – headed by the Rally of Lebanon, now in its 45th edition – which shows the club’s bright image in promoting both sport and tourism. He thanked the board, the motorsport committee chaired by Lahoud, rally officials, club staff, the security services, municipalities, the Lebanese Red Cross, Civil Defence and the media, as well as LBCI for broadcasting the rally live over three days.
Lahoud
Lahoud said this year’s Rally of Lebanon is the fourth round of the 2023 Middle East Rally Championship, to be followed by the Cyprus and Kuwait rallies. He noted that the event is distinctive for being run on asphalt, unlike the other Middle East rallies, with competition among the region’s strongest drivers, led by Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (two-time winner) and Lebanon’s Roger Feghali (record 15-time winner). He thanked the board for its support, praised the rally officials – most with more than 30 years’ experience – and the sponsors led by Coral, and urged spectators on the stages to follow the volunteers’ safety instructions.
Kraiker, Tchopourian and Jammous
Kraiker thanked the official bodies, security forces, humanitarian organisations, sponsors led by Coral and the Jounieh municipality, adding that parc fermé and the service park will be in the outdoor area of the Fouad Chehab complex.
Tchopourian said 31 cars will take part – a significant number – including six Rally2 cars and 15 Mitsubishis (RC2), headed by Al-Attiyah and Feghali alongside a host of local and Arab drivers. The podium ceremony will be held at 5pm on Sunday, September 17 at the ATCL.
Jammous said the rally covers 634.43km, including 195.34km across 11 special stages in Keserwan, Jbeil, Batroun and the Metn (one stage on Friday, six on Saturday and four on Sunday). The official start is at 9pm on Friday, September 15 at the ATCL with a super special stage, preceded by a classic car display and a drift show. He described the Rally of Lebanon as a prestigious event – one of the oldest in the region – with varied stages that will stage the “Clasico” between Al-Attiyah and Feghali.
Photos: MMS Racing.