Qtel Qatar International Rally
2010 FIA Middle East Rally Championship, round 1
For immediate release
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010
JORDANIAN LADIES TEAM SET TO TACKLE
2010 QTEL QATAR INTERNATIONAL RALLY
· Abu-Huda and Bustami set to run Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution in Qatar
DOHA (Qatar): A Jordanian ladies team is set to tackle the Qtel Qatar International Rally, round one of the 2010 FIA Middle East Rally Championship being hosted by the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF), on January 21st-23rd.
Amani Abu Al-Huda and Mirvat Bustami will tackle the two-day, all-desert opening round of the regional rally series in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX, which was driven by Faris Bustami for the first time in last autumn’s Jordan Rally.
It is no coincidence that Faris Bustami is involved in the project either. The multiple Jordan national champion and regular in Middle East rallying for many years is the husband of co-driver Mirvat and will oversee the exciting new programme for Jordan’s all-female crew.
In fact, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan was one of the first nations in the Middle East region to encourage ladies to take part in international rallying. Nancy Al-Majali was a regular in the championship for several seasons as a driver with co-driver Nadia Shnoudeh, before Al-Majali switched to co-driving and Shnoudeh moved into an organising role. Qatari ladies also achieved some success, with Nada Zaidan taking part in several regional rallies for a couple of seasons, in addition to her archery exploits for the State of Qatar.
Al-Huda drove on select rallies last season and the Jordanian pair tackled rounds of the Jordanian national series in 2009 and won the ladies’ award.
Faris Bustami has also registered for the FIA Middle East Rally Championship and entered the opening round in Qatar. He is also planning to take part with co-driver Zeid Abu Zeid in a new Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X.
“Regional motor sport, particularly rallying, is not necessarily the domain just for male drivers,” said Nasser Khalifa Al-Attiyah, President of the QMMF. “We are delighted that an all-female team is taking part this year and hope that their successes on the special stages will attract more women to take part in rallying.”
For further information about the 2010 QTEL Qatar International Rally, contact Marie-Lou Cruz, Qatar Motor and Motor Cycle Federation (QMMF), PO Box 8708, Doha, Qatar, Tel: + 974 437 9884/9885, Fax: + 974 437 9761, E-mail: marielou.cruz@qmmf.com.qa and website: www.qmmf.com
Ends
Neil Perkins, NDP Publicity Services, International Press Officer, 2010 Qtel Qatar International Rally, UK Mobile: + 44 7831 123153, E-mail: NDPPublicity@googlemail.com
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