Jordan Rally action to begin on Friday

The competitive stages scheduled for the opening day of the Jordan Rally have been cancelled owing to the late arrival of the service park infrastructure.

Rally organisers met with the FIA this afternoon (Wednesday) to agree a revised schedule.

Although the much-delayed boat carrying 37 trucks filled with equipment essential to the running of the rally docked at the Israeli port of Haifa at 11:00hrs, the convoy then had to clear customs at Haifa and at the Jordan border on the journey to Rally HQ.

Since the trucks are not expected to arrive at the service park until midnight on Wednesday, organisers had no option but to reschedule Thursday’s activities.

“The ship that has been bringing the equipment has broken down twice en route from Europe but thankfully the vehicles are now on land and will be at the Dead Sea tonight [Wednesday],” said Randa Nabulsi, Clerk of the Course. “The decision to change the first day’s schedule was made collectively and we can all look forward to the ceremonial start tomorrow evening in Jerash and then the start of the rally on Friday morning.”

Thursday’s revised schedule will include pre-event scrutineering from 07:00hrs to 10:30hrs, shakedown from 12:30hrs to 14:30hrs, the official FIA pre-event press conference at 14:30hrs and the ceremonial start at the ancient city of Jerash from 17.30hrs.

Friday’s and Saturday’s schedules will run as originally planned, which means that the first competitive stage of the Jordan Rally will be SS7, Suwayma, with the first cars leaving the service park at 08:45hrs on Friday.