HAIL: The first phase of the Hail Rally will be launched in “Qarin Anz” on Monday.
The first phase is around 3.78 km long, and 46 contestants will compete in the car race — 24 of which are in the T1 category, 11 in T2, and 11 in T3 in order to determine the levels of contestants.
Contestants in the 13th Hail Rally are expected to travel a total distance of 1,300 km during the rally’s four phases, SPA reported.
The rally is being held under the patronage of Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad, the governor of Hail region.
The Hail Nissan International Rally is one of the most important international sports events organized in Saudi Arabia. It attracts a large number of local and international participants and audiences.
It is also overseen by several international and local bodies, including the International Automobile Federation (FIA), the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation (SAMF), the Supreme Authority for Developing Hail, and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH).
The rally was first held in 2006, with the participation of 30 contestants from Saudi Arabia, and training tours were conducted across the Kingdom. In 2007, the rally became globally recognized and attracted international contestants.
The Hail International Rally improved over the years and expanded to include motor racing as well as car racing. Contestants can be teams or individuals from different countries, like the UAE, Oman, France, the UK, Italy, Portugal, and others.
Several cultural and social events are held simultaneously with the rally and many government and private bodies take part in this huge event. This year’s accompanying events started last week and will continue for nine days.