Abu Dhabi, Iran and Oman will host candidate events this year ahead of their inclusion in the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) from 2015 onwards, expanding the regional series to nine rounds.
While dates for the Iran and Oman events are yet to be released, Abu Dhabi Racing yesterday announced it would host its candidate round in collaboration with Yas Motor Racing Club from October 16-17.
To be known as the Abu Dhabi Rally, the spectator stage will be held on Thursday, October 16 at the North Handling Circuit of Yas Marina Circuit, while the competitive sections would be held over eight special stages the following day.
Abu Dhabi has previously hosted a round of the MERC – in 1989, 1995-2001, 2004–06 – which was known as the UAE International Rally .
Once the FIA clears the candidate event, the UAE will then be host to two rounds of the MERC, with Dubai already organising the season-ending round either in late November or early December each year since 1984.
Abu Dhabi Racing chairman Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi said: “Abu Dhabi Rally will definitely be an added value to the MERC. The event will connect the deep-rooted culture of rallying in the region with the modernity of the sport as the headquarters of Abu Dhabi Rally and the Super Special Stage will be at Yas Marina Circuit.”
Competitors can pre-register at www.yasmarinacircuit.com/en/ motorsport/yas-motor-racing-club/abu-dhabi-rally-2014.
Meanwhile, FIA vice president in charge of the Middle East and North Africa region Nasser Khalifa Al Attiyah has confirmed that Iran and Oman too would be holding candidate events before the end of the year.
Currently, the FIA MERC calendar consists of six rounds, held in Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Cyprus and Dubai, in that order.