HAIL SAUDI BAJA
2007 FIA International Cup for Bajas, official candidate event
For immediate release
Thursday, January 25th, 2007
HAIL SAUDI BAJA ORGANISERS ANNOUNCE STRONG
COMMERCIAL SUPPORT FOR NEXT MONTH?S BONANZA
Crucial new backing from Rakeeza, Al-Maraa?i and SABIC;
Hail organisers confident that Baja will boost tourism in Hail province;
Bison, Saudi Airlines, MBC and local media support new venture
HAIL (Saudi Arabia): Organisers of the 2007 Hail Saudi Baja, the most important motor sporting event in the history of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, are putting the finishing touches to the FIA-sanctioned candidate event now that entries have officially closed.
The three-day Baja is being organised by the Saudi Motor Sports Committee (SMSC) and takes place between February 9th-11th, under the patronage of the Governor of Hail, HRH Prince Saud bin Abdul Mohsen Bin Abdul Aziz, and with the full support of Hail Development Authority.
This event marks Saudi Arabia?s first entry into top level international motorsport since Middle East rallying was first established in other parts of the Gulf region in the late 1970s. It comes on the back of months of hard work by Saudi officials and regional FIA staff.
The event is being run with the support of the General Headquarters for Youth Welfare and the Higher Association for Tourism and has attracted many of the Middle East?s regular rally competitors and a number of leading Saudi crews keen to follow in the footsteps of former Saudi Arabian FIA Middle East rally champions Abdullah Bakhashab and Mamdouh Khayat and regular Saudi competitors Ahmed Al-Sabban and Prince Khalid Bin Faisal.
The 2007 Hail Saudi Baja has received crucial support from the Rakeeza Company, the main development arm of the Abdul-Aziz Ben Mussa?ed Economic Centre in Hail, with the full support of His Highness Prince Abdullah Bin Khaled Bin Abdullah Mussa?ed, Chairman of the Higher Commission for the Development of the Hail Province and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Hail Saudi Baja.
A fleet of local companies have pledged to support Saudi Arabia?s new motorsport venture, which permits drivers of FIA T1 and T2 cars to tackle two days? of high-speed action in the remote deserts around the scenic city in the north of Saudi Arabia, preceded by a timed ?super-special? stage in Hail.
In addition to receiving support from the Rakeeza Company, the Hail Saudi Baja has agreed a new partnership with the Al-Maraa?i Company, the Saudi Basic Industries Company (SABIC), publicity from the Iqtisadiah newspapers – on behalf of the Saudi Group for Research and Publishing – and Al-Rasheed Engineering. The Hail-based event also receives the backing of the MBC television broadcasting network.
?I would like to thank the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Highness the Crown Prince for their approval to conduct the Hail Saudi Baja 2007 on a regular basis,? said His Highness Prince Abdullah Bin Khaled Bin Abdullah Mussae?ed. ?I would also like to thank His Royal Highness Prince Saud Bin Abdul-Muhsen Bin Abdul-Aziz for giving the support of the Hail Province to our new venture and to our local sponsors and partners for giving this event a sound footing for success.?
?We are indebted to a number of people, who have made this event possible and I would like to thank them,? said Mishaal Fahad Al-Sudairy, Chairman of the Organising Committee. ?The Hail Saudi Baja is an excellent platform to support the skills and progress of the youth of Saudi Arabia, as well as to confirm the integration between the public and private sectors.?
Al-Sudairy also confirmed that the list of sponsors for the Hail Saudi Baja include Safra Power and Yamama Cement, while the Toyota Landcruiser has been adopted as the official car of the event, following crucial support from Toyota. The Ahli Commercial Bank, Saudi Airways and Bison, the official energy drink of the Hail Saudi Baja, have also pledged invaluable support.
?We are convinced that the Hail Saudi Baja will promote tourism in the Hail region and encourage people to visit the province,? insisted Al-Sudairy. ?We ran a test event last year and were staggered by the number of spectators. Motorsport is extremely popular in Saudi Arabia and we are sure that spectators will attend the event at the start of February in very large numbers.?
For entry information about the 2007 Hail Saudi Baja, contact either Walid Mihyar (E-mail: wmihyar@hotmail.com) or Mishaal Fahad Al-Sudairy (E-mail: msudairy@msudairy.com) at the Saudi Motor Sport Committee, PO Box 87881, Riyadh 11652, Saudi Arabia, Tel: + 9661 477 1034 and Fax: + 9661 477 1050. www.Saudimotorsport.com
Ends
For further media information:
Neil Perkins, 2007 Hail Saudi Baja International Press Officer, NDP Publicity Services, NCH Building, Upper Bar, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 7EH, United Kingdom, Mobile: + 44 7831 123153, E-mail: ndppublicity@compuserve.com. www.ndp-publicity.com (press releases).
www.saudimotorsport.com