Jordan Rally officials announce initial sponsorship for Jordan Rally

The first press conference for the fourth round of this year's FIA Middle East Rally Championship took place today (Wednesday) at the Marriott Hotel in Amman.

Speaking at the press conference, Tarek Tabaa, the recently-appointed chairman of the Jordan International Rally Organizing Committee, announced that drivers, officials, team personnel and members of the media would stay at the Amman Marriott Hotel, which is a major sponsor of the event.

"Royal Jordanian Airlines has been involved in transportation support and will fly international representatives into Amman from the GCC countries and from as far afield as Europe," said Tabaa.

RACJ officials announced that Marlboro will be the title sponsor of the event for a third successive season. Marlboro is synonymous with global motorsport sponsorship, most notably of the Ferrari team in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship and Team Peugeot Total in the FIA World Rally Championship.

Marlboro has also supported individual drivers in the Middle East in recent seasons, including the multiple champion Mohammed Bin Sulayem, Saudi Arabia's Abdullah Bakhashab, Kuwait's Mohammed Al-Sarraf and Lebanese driver Roger Feghali.

"We are proud to be associated with the Jordan International Rally for a third successive season," said Marlboro spokesman Daoud Al Issa. "It has built up an excellent reputation in recent years and I am sure that this will continue in the future."

Jordan International Rally Manager Ziad Louza outlined specific details about the event's three-day format and acknowledged further support from Peugeot and Masar, a technology company which provides wireless communications and video conferencing equipment.

"The third round of the Middle East Championship took place in Oman last weekend and attracted a strong entry," said Louza. "Now everyone's attention will turn to the next round in Jordan in May. We can expect our phones to be busy over the coming two to three weeks as people make their final travel plans and arrange the myriad of logistics necessary for the smooth running of an international rally team.

"We have carried out several detailed checks of the route and are confident that our visiting drivers will enjoy the special stages and the unique challenge of rallying in Jordan," added Louza. "A new GPS tracking system was introduced across the entire Middle East rally series at the start of the season and this has been a resounding success. This, coupled with the fact that Group N rally cars are much cheaper to run competitively than the World Rally Cars which were eligible last season, dictates that we are aiming for around 40-45 entries this year."

Motor sport has a prestigious history in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. It was introduced by the late King Hussain in 1953 and retains its popularity, with members of the Royal Family taking an active role in the organisation and administration of international motor sport in the kingdom.

The first Jordan Rally took place 40 years ago. The first international status event was organised in 1981 and the Jordan International Rally became a round of the Gulf Rally Championship in 1983. His Majesty King Abdullah Bin Al-Hussain was crowned Jordan Rally Champion in 1986 and1988 and regularly took part in the event until 1996. His Highness Prince Faisal Bin Al-Hussain is the Chairman of the Motorsport Executive Council.