Location for start of April 1-3 WRC still under wraps
This month’s penultimate round of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) is set for a spectacular launch in Amman’s entertainment and social centre.
Jordan Motorsport, the organisers and managers of the FIA Jordan Rally MERC, has chosen the ‘party’ hub of its capital city, Abdoun, due to its strategy of taking motorsport to the masses.
With the start location for next April’s World Rally Championship (WRC) still under lock and key, the organisers have revealed that Abdoun will be the bustling location for thousands of people to see the launch of its Middle East event on October 29.
“Abdoun is well known for its restaurants and cafes so it is a great opportunity to showcase Amman as a city with the sort of vibrant nightlife expected from any modern capital city today,” said Khaled Zakaria, Jordan Rally Clerk of the Course.
The event will get into gear around 4pm with a programme of Jordan-themed entertainment with the first car set to cross the ramp at 5pm. The cars will move on to the Dead Sea where the rally will be centred on October 30 and 31st. By using Abdoun, thousands of spectators will have a close-up view of the rally cars that will burn up the tracks around the Dead Sea and the Jordan Valley, as well as enjoy some free cultural entertainment free of charge.
Last month it was revealed that the region’s best drivers will tackle around 260kms of the toughest terrain on offer for this year’s championship. All of the routes are being tested ahead of 2010’s return of the FIA WRC to Jordan from April 1-3.
Fans have been debating which location to use for the start of the WRC on the official Jordan Rally Facebook Group and it has been hinted that one the country’s incredible tourist attractions is hotly tipped to provide a stunning backdrop.
However, as part of Jordan Motorsport’s bid to attract a wider audience to motorsport, this month’s Middle East event will begin in an area already popular on a Thursday evening to ensure the biggest possible attendance.
Jordan hosts the sixth round of a closely fought championship which will culminate a month later at the Dubai International Rally.