The Automobile et Touring Club du Liban (ATCL) has officially announced the 39th Rally of Lebanon, to be held between September 1 and 4 as round four of the Middle East Rally Championship and the final round of the Lebanese Rally Championship. The announcement was made at a packed press conference at the club’s Kaslik headquarters.
Attendees included ATCL vice-president Christian Anid, treasurer Gilbert Messayhi, board member Mario Chalala, FIA Middle East and North Africa coordinator Imad Lahoud, club director-general Charbel Gerges, motorsport committee director Gaby Kreiker, organising committee chairman Fady Aoun, clerk of the course Issam Hatti, sponsors and the media. Journalist Ghiath Dibra hosted the event.
Speaking on behalf of the board, Messayhi stressed the close link between the club and motorsport since its creation, noting that the ATCL is the FIA’s sole representative in Lebanon and insists on holding the rally even in the darkest times. He thanked everyone involved and underlined the principle of public safety during the event.
Lahoud said Portugal’s Pedro Almeida would be the FIA observer and that more than 1,000 people work on the event, while Kreiker thanked the sponsors, security forces, municipalities, official bodies, civil defence and Red Cross, as well as the club as the event’s main funder.
Route
Aoun said the rally covers 664.13km, including 209.10km of special stages on asphalt over three days. The ceremonial start is at 19:30 on Thursday, September 1, in central Jounieh, followed by a super special stage from 17:30 on Friday, September 2, at the RPM circuit in Mtein. Six stages will be run on Saturday and four on Sunday, with the podium ceremony at 17:00 on Sunday, September 4, at the club in Kaslik.
- SS1 (Friday): Mtein – RPM circuit, 2.56km
- SS2 and SS5 (Saturday): Ain Aaya – Deir Billa, 21.40km
- SS3 and SS6 (Saturday): Kfarhilda – Deir Billa, 15.21km
- SS4 and SS7 (Saturday): Sourat – Bqaiaa, 28.85km
- SS8 and SS10 (Sunday): Zandouka – Bzebdine, 17.67km
- SS9 and SS11 (Sunday): Zbougha – Kfartay, 20.14km
A press conference with the leading drivers will be held at noon on Thursday, September 1, at the club, and the service park will be at the Fouad Chehab Sports Complex in Jounieh.
34 cars
Hatti said 34 cars will take part, driven by 29 Lebanese and five Qatari drivers, with co-drivers from Lebanon, Ireland, France, Portugal, Italy, Britain and Jordan. The entry is led by record 12-time winner Roger Feghali (Ford Fiesta R5) and Middle East champion Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (Skoda Fabia R5), alongside Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari and Abdo Feghali in Skoda Fabia R5s, Tamer Ghandour (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X), Rodrigue Rahi (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) and Gilbert Bannout (Ford Fiesta R5).
Scrutineering starts at 08:00 on Thursday, September 1, at the club, and points will count towards both the Middle East and Lebanese championships. An FIA film on safety at events was shown before officials answered journalists’ questions.