MUSCAT: Brigadier Salim bin Ali al Maskari, Chairman of Oman Automobiles Association, said the Sultanate is ready to host Gulf Challenge for Desert Rally, scheduled to be held in the Sultanate on September 7-8, 2017.
He affirmed that Gulf Challenge will enhance cooperation among Gulf states and build on the achievements made in sports fields. It will also provide Gulf youths with the opportunity to take part in a regional competition and share experiences with international racers.
He pointed out that the Sultanate has good record in organising auto sports competitions since 1978 and that the competitions organised by the Association are widely followed up by Gulf, Arab and foreign media. He noted that since 2013, the Association has organised more than 45 competitions.
The five-round rallying series calendar was officially revealed at a press conference held at the Oman Automobile Association (OAA) on Saturday.
Brig Jamal al Tai, Vice-Chairman of the OAA, gave details of the championship in the presence of Abdullah Bakhashab of Saudi Arabia, the head of the steering committee, and Suleiman al Rawahi, the OAA’s Managing Director.
Speaking on the occasion, Al Tai said, “We are honoured to be a part of this regional motor sport event. It marks the beginning of a new era in the field of promoting motor sports within the GCC region.”
Formula One and MotoGP races apart, this is the largest motor sporting development in the Gulf since the creation of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship in 1984.
The event will feature separate championships for cars, motorcycles and quad classes in the series, which will conclude in Qatar on December 7-8.
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