2004 champion lines up alongside world’s best in ‘home’ event

Amman, Jordan: Multiple Jordan National Rally champion Amjad Farah has been granted an organiser’s wild card to take part in the Production Cars section of Jordan’s World Rally Championship (WRC) event from April 1-3.

Jordan Motorsport, as the event’s organisers, have permission to include a ‘local’ driver in the more prestigious Production WRC (PWRC) field and Farrah has received the nod in recognition of his efforts for more than a decade of top level regional rallying.

“It is a tremendous honour to be chosen because there are a lot of excellent drivers these days in Jordan so I would like to thanks the organisers,” said Farah. “I am really looking forward to taking part next month against some of the fastest and most skilled drivers in the world and I hope the Jordanians will come out and show their support too.”

Farah won a dramatic 2004 Jordan Rally – the only native to win the Middle East’s top event – and has continued to compete at the highest levels regionally since. He also ventured onto the global stage when he took part in the 2007 PWRC.

He now hopes that local knowledge will prove advantageous as he squares up to some the most established drivers in the world.

“It is going to be very tough but I am going to push for a podium finish. There are some great drivers but I seriously think, with a bit of luck, we can push for the top three in the Production Class,” he said.

The PWRC is the second tier of competition at the upcoming Jordan Rally with the WRC – featuring the likes of Sebastien Loeb, Mikko Hirvonen, Petter Solberg and Kimi Raikkonen – taking top billing. There will also be a P3 section for other drivers looking for WRC glory. The Kingdom’s Middle East Rally Championship event will run alongside the big show, but on the second and third days only.

It will all add up to a sporting extravaganza with a host of social entertainment on offer to attract non-rally fans to the action.

The event will launch amidst the Roman ruins of Jerash on April 1 before three days of fierce driving conditions await through the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea areas. The event will culminate with the closing ceremony and podium at the Service Park on the banks of the Dead Sea.

This will be the second time that the WRC has visited Jordan, following its successful debut in 2008 which was won by Finland’s Hirvonen.