2003 FIA Middle East Rally Championship
Jordan International Rally
For immediate release
Sunday, April 13th, 2003
JORDAN RALLY POSTPONED UNTIL
JULY BECAUSE OF IRAQ WAR
AMMAN (Jordan): Because of the current situation in the Middle East, and in Iraq in particular, the organising committee of the Jordan International Rally has decided to postpone the event, which was scheduled to take place May 15-17th. It will now take place between July 24-26, 2003.
The decision was no surprise given the impact of the war on travel by foreign teams and FIA representatives to the region.
For his part, Hassan Alaeddin, General Manager of the Royal Automobile Club of Jordan, said, ~Although all preparations necessary to hold the rally on time had been completed, we agreed on the postponement after a meeting of the Jordan Motor Sport Executive Committee – held at the Royal Automobile Club of Jordan – determined this was the correct response given the circumstances.~
~It was unimaginable that we would prepare for a sporting event in Jordan while there was war in the region, and in that light, this was a wise decision. I hope the war will end quickly and peace will come to the region, since the consequences of war affect not only the people
directly involved, but all the people in the region and the world,~ added Alaeddin.
The Jordan International Rally will now be the third round of the Middle East Rally Championship. The first round was held in Qatar, while the second round will take place in Lebanon at the start of July. The Bahrain Rally was cancelled this year after two date changes.
The rally has always received extensive support from the royal family, including the participation in a number of races by His Majesty the late King Hussein bin Talal. This legacy was passed on to his son, His Majesty King Abdullah II Bin Al Hussein, who regularly exhibits his keen passion for motor sports and has participated in numerous rallies himself.
He twice won the Jordan Open Championship. His brother Prince Faisal bin Al Hussein is president of the Jordan Motor Sport Executive Committee and plays an active role in the organising and logistics committees of the Royal Automobile Club of Jordan.
Official support for this year’s Jordan International Rally comes from the main sponsor, Marlboro, and associate sponsors, the Marriott Hotels Group, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Masar (Motorola) and Red Bull.
Ends
For more information on the Jordan International Rally, please contact
the Royal Automobile Club of Jordan in Amman.
Tel: +962 6 585 0626
Fax: +962 6 581 8131
E-mail: racj@go.com.jo