The Automobile et Touring Club du Liban (ATCL) has officially announced the 42nd Rally of Lebanon, to be held on August 30 and 31 and September 1 under the patronage of President of the Republic General Michel Aoun. The announcement came at a packed press conference at the club’s Kaslik headquarters.
Attendees included ATCL president Sheikh Fouad El Khazen, vice-president Nabil Karam, secretary-general Camille Edde, treasurer Elie Assaf, board members Imad Lahoud (motorsport committee coordinator), Joe Toutounji, Sheikh Nabil El Khazen, Gilbert Messayhi and Bassel Azar, director-general Charbel Gerges, national sporting committee director Suleiman Khattar, automobile department head Gaby Kreiker, organising committee chairman Fady Youssef Aoun, clerk of the course Issam Hatti, sponsors and the media.
This year we are celebrating the club’s centenary (1919–2019). First, I would like to thank His Excellency President Michel Aoun for his patronage of the rally. One of the club’s missions is to support motorsport and tourism, and the club has become renowned in the region and the world.
Nabil Karam, ATCL vice-president
Our appointment is renewed year after year. After 27 years, the super special stage returns to the club for the opening of the rally, sponsored by Total.
Imad Lahoud
Lahoud said the rally will pass through 100 towns and villages, and is round three of this year’s Middle East Rally Championship and the final round of the Lebanese Rally Championship. Kreiker thanked the ministries of interior, defence, youth and sports and public works, the army, security forces and sponsors, adding that LBCI will broadcast the rally live as usual.
Route and entry
Organising committee chairman Fady Aoun said the rally covers 716.58km, including 231.30km over 11 asphalt special stages across three days. It opens with a 2.52km super special at the club on the evening of Friday, August 30, with the following two days in the Jbeil, Batroun and Metn districts and the Bekaa, and the podium ceremony on Sunday afternoon at the club.
Clerk of the course Issam Hatti announced 27 crews, led by Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah and record 14-time winner Roger Feghali, with drivers and co-drivers from Lebanon, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, France and Jordan. He urged journalists and photographers to follow the organisers’ instructions for safety.
Answering questions, Lahoud said Lebanon is, by general acknowledgement, the most active Middle East country in motorsport, that nine Lebanese hold posts in the FIA, and that the club supports the younger generation through FIA grants. “The club’s doors are open to motorsport fans to follow the rally from the start with the Total super special on Friday evening until the podium on Sunday afternoon,” he said.