In his editorial for the 40th Rally of Lebanon, organising committee chairman Fady Youssef Aoun looks back at the roots of the event. The founders of the Automobile et Touring Club du Liban (ATCL) pledged “to develop tourism in all its forms”, and car tours to Europe were the club’s main events. Motorsport events such as rallies and hill climbs were only added to the calendar in the 1950s.
From the Tour du Liban to the Rally of the Mountain
In 1951, José Chidiac organised a rally known as the “Tour du Liban”, over a route of about 500km finishing at the Aley swimming pool. It is considered the first rally in the Middle East and was won by Louis “Loulou” Bassoul in a Renault Frégate. The second edition, in 1955, finished at the Beirut horse-racing track and was won by the same driver in a similar car. The Frégate dominated that era: between those two events, Pierre Hanineh drove one to win the first Syria–Lebanon Rally in 1952.
The first Rally of Lebanon, originally known as the Rally of the Mountain, dates back to 1968. More than 1,000km of Lebanese roads and 57 cars, including 14 international drivers, marked the start of international rallying in the region. Thanks to planning and perseverance the organisers earned a nomination for the World Rally Championship, “but until now we are still waiting for destiny”.
Aoun describes the Rally of Lebanon as a cornerstone of motorsport that was born before many other rallies and championships and will remain when others leave, its existence never tied to its surroundings however difficult the circumstances. “The azimuth may change but not the course. It remains the essential direction.”
The 40th edition
This year’s programme includes a head-to-head super special stage and 10 special stages on slippery tarmac. The event follows a compact concept with 206km of stages, a service park in Jounieh, remote refuelling zones in Yarita and Baabdat, and altitudes from 200 to 1,200 metres, making the 40th Rally of Lebanon the most demanding event in the Middle East Rally Championship. The ATCL’s facilities again host rally headquarters, the control room and the media centre.
Yes, as happened with others, you cannot but fall in love with it.
Fady Youssef Aoun
On behalf of the organising committee, he thanked the sponsors, supporters and the ATCL, and paid tribute to the volunteers, from the marshals “without whom we cannot run this event” to stage commanders, officials and committee members, wishing everyone a safe rally.