FIA Vice President gives assurance on protecting regional interests

International Sportsworld Communicators, promoters of the WRC, recently proposed Jordan as venue to host a round in 2010, the date subject to confirmation by the World Motor Sport Council which meets in Paris on June 24.

Jordan had in recent months voiced its concerns over the FIA's two-year rotation system which offers the Kingdom an opportunity to host a round of the championship only once in two years.

This year's 12 rounds were the first to be planned according to the FIA's two-year rotation system.

In 2010 a different 12 rallies are scheduled to run with this year's calendar set to return in 2011, and so on.

The 2009 calendar contains fewer rallies than any season since 1996, when a previous rotation system meant there were just nine WRC events.

The matter came up during his meeting with King Abdullah where Sulayem has assured that steps are being taken to protect the regional interests of the WRC, apart from discussing other motorsport-related issues including closer cooperation between the region's automobile clubs to win additional FIA recognition for the Middle East.

"The Jordan Rally has been one of the top events in the FIA Middle East Championship over the years and deserves a permanent place in the World Rally Championship calendar," said Sulayem, who, in 1984, scored his first of more than 60 international rally wins in the Kingdom. Welshman Phil Mills was in the cockpit alongside Sulayem when he won in Jordan in 1984.

"His Majesty King Hussein had a great passion for motor sport, which is shared by His Majesty King Abdullah. And it was their drive and enthusiasm which ultimately led to Jordan having a World Championship Rally," Sulayem noted.

As President of the Automobile & Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE), Sulayem created the region's first top-flight motorsport event, the UAE Desert Challenge, which is now round one of both the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup and the FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship.

Apart from playing an important role in bringing Formula One racing to Bahrain as advisor to Crown Prince HH Sheikh Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa in negotiations with the FIA, Sulayem also worked to bring the pinnacle of motor sport to the UAE with the inaugural Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix scheduled for November this year.