The Automobile et Touring Club du Liban (ATCL) is continuing its preparations for the 39th Rally of Lebanon on September 2, 3 and 4, round four of this year’s Middle East Rally Championship.
Organising committee chairman Fady Aoun, who holds the post for a record 11th consecutive time, said the organisation is in full swing and that everyone working on the event is busy as a beehive preparing a race that critics call the “star” of Middle East rallies.
The rally will be opened with a super special stage on the afternoon of Friday, September 2, followed by 10 special stages on Saturday and Sunday in an exciting event held, as is well known, on paved roads.
Fady Aoun
Aoun said entries are open to international, Arab and Lebanese competitors until Friday, August 19, and called for a large entry. Some 1,200 people work on the rally, which grabs the spotlight every year thanks to the fierce competition, with some top drivers still chasing their first Rally of Lebanon win. Roger Feghali won last year’s edition for a record 12th time.
He said the FIA had informed the organisers that Portugal’s Pedro Almeida has been appointed as its observer, while Jordan’s Othman Nassif will chair the stewards.
The service park will be in the outdoor area of the Fouad Chehab Sports Complex in Jounieh, and contacts are continuing with the municipalities along the route to ensure smooth organisation. Aoun described his relationship with FIA MENA coordinator and ATCL motorsport committee coordinator Imad Lahoud and committee director Gaby Kreiker as “excellent”, and thanked the media, photographers and fans for following motorsport and the Rally of Lebanon in particular.