DEAD SEA, JORDAN – The Jordan Rally got underway on Thursday evening with a ceremonial start against the spectacular backdrop of the Dead Sea.
Twenty-four cars (16 FIA and eight National) from nine countries will tackle 15 demanding special stages in the Jordan Valley and Dead Sea areas over the next two days to decide round two of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC).
Abdullah Al-Rawahi is the defending Jordanian national champion and last year’s MERC winner in the Hashemite Kingdom. Seeded second behind 19-time regional champion Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah, he is quietly confident of furthering his title defence.
We finished the recce. Overall, they are amazing stages here and really tough. We tested a few days ago to make sure everything is okay. The team has worked really hard to give me the best car I can have for this rally. Nasser is a fantastic driver. Hopefully we can battle and have a good pace.
Abdullah Al-Rawahi
Last year, Nasser had a problem but we have a better car this year. I think the main focus is to be really careful and be fast at the same time. Let’s see what happens on the first day.
Abdullah Al-Rawahi
Al-Attiyah retired from the opening round in Qatar while pushing for extra points on the final Power Stage, and hopes to give his new Škoda Fabia RS a winning debut.
This is always one of the favourite rallies for all the drivers. The organisers have done a good job to build the stages. We try to enjoy this race and to win. I am actually happy to share the title last year with Abdullah. He’s improved every race and this is what we need for the Middle East. We are looking for more drivers to compete at this level.
Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah
Last year, we got a few problems and finished second but this year is completely different. We try to be clever with the new Škoda Fabia. We make a good test, 30km. I like the car a lot. Abdullah has more points than me but, if you look at the Dakar Rally, I had no points from there either and I am now leading the World Championship (W2RC) and I won the last two races. I need to be clever for this race – maximum points – and then Lebanon, Cyprus and Oman.
Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah
Jordan Motorsport held the official pre-event press conference on the podium before the start. Al-Rawahi and Al-Attiyah were joined by Qatar’s Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari and Khalid Al-Suwaidi and leading Jordanians Bader Al-Fayez, Shaker Jweihan, Shadi Shaban and Husam Salim. Al-Fayez is using a Rally2 Škoda, bought from Ireland, for only the second time. Lebanon’s Ahmad Khaled and Oman’s Zakariya Al-Aamri were late withdrawals.
Friday’s route
The Mount Nebo area hosts the opening Panorama and Bahath stages, before crews return to the Dead Sea for the Baptism Site special, named after the nearby biblical site. After lunchtime service, all three are repeated before a 3.3km super special at the Dead Sea closes the day from 16:35.