KASLIK, LEBANON – The Automobile and Touring Club of Lebanon (ATCL) has officially announced the 44th Coral Rally of Lebanon, to be held on September 2, 3 and 4, 2022 under the patronage of President of the Republic General Michel Aoun.
The announcement was made at a press conference at the club’s Kaslik headquarters, attended by ATCL secretary-general Camille Eddé, treasurer lawyer Gilbert Massihi, motorsport committee coordinator Imad Lahoud, rally office director Gaby Kraiker, organising committee chairman Serge Tchopourian, clerk of the course lawyer Ziad Jammous, event officials, sponsors’ representatives and members of the press.
Lahoud: the rally stays on the regional map
After the national anthem, Lahoud said the club insists on holding the Rally of Lebanon every year despite the difficult economic conditions Lebanon has faced for three years, at a time when several rallies in the region have been cancelled. He stressed that the Rally of Lebanon will remain “on the regional map” as one of the most important rallies held under FIA supervision, and thanked the ATCL board, chaired by lawyer Elie Assaf, for supporting sport at the club in general and motorsport in particular.
Kraiker thanked President Aoun for his patronage, as well as the official, military and municipal authorities, the security forces, humanitarian organisations, the sponsors – led by Coral – and the media for their cooperation. He confirmed the event’s official name: the Coral Rally of Lebanon.
The route
Tchopourian said the rally covers a total distance of 478.83km, including 286.53km across 10 special stages. The super special stage will run on the evening of Friday, September 2 (from 8:50pm) inside the ATCL grounds, with the rally continuing on Saturday and Sunday in the Jbeil and Batroun districts. The cars are due back at the club at 3pm on Sunday for the podium ceremony.
34 cars and seven nationalities
Jammous said 34 cars will take part – a big number compared with entries at other rallies in the region. The field is headed by Lebanon’s Roger Feghali, a record 15-time winner, and Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah, a one-time winner, with drivers and co-drivers from seven Arab and European nationalities.
He urged spectators and the media to follow the organisers’ instructions on the special stages for their own safety, again described the Rally of Lebanon as the “star” of the Middle East Rally Championship, and revealed that 700 people will work on the event. Officials then answered journalists’ questions.
Photos: MMS Racing.