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Kuwait City, Kuwait — The 2009 Kuwait International Rally, round two of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship, got underway under the Kuwait Towers in Kuwait City on Thursday afternoon, marking the country’s return to hosting an international motor sport event after 13 years in the rallying wilderness.

Cars were scheduled to be flagged away from the start podium by Sheikh Ahmad Al-Dawood Al-Sabah, president of the Kuwait Motor Sports Club (KMSC), in the presence of Nasser Khalifa Al-Attiyah, president of the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation (QMMF), other esteemed guests and FIA representatives.

The 30 teams, including 10 crews from Kuwait and nine from Qatar, then headed straight into a 3.5km super special stage at the nearby Jaber Al-Ahmad International Circuit in Kuwait City. The special has been purpose-built by KMSC staff to enable two cars to run side-by-side against the clock to further thrill the assembled spectators.

Kuwait’s return to international rallying marks the 150th event in the history of the regional rally series and is being held under the patronage of Faisal Al-Jazaf, chairman and general manager of the public authority for youth and sports in the State of Kuwait. He will attend the official ceremonial finish on Saturday afternoon, after teams have tackled 14 special stages and 250 competitive Kilometres.

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Source: Kuwait Motor Sport Club (KMSC)
Image Copyrights: Kuwait Motor Sport Club
Photo: The 2009 Kuwait International Rally got underway in Kuwait City on Thursday and marked the country's return to the regional rally series for the first time since 1996

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