Tribune News Network
Aqaba (Jordan)
The Jordan Baja gets underway with a short Prologue stage (13.50hrs) and the ceremonial start at the Arab Revolt Plaza in the Red Sea City of Aqaba from 16.45hrs on Thursday afternoon.
Nineteen crews and 16 riders competing for points in the FIA World and Middle East Baja Cups and the FIM Bajas World Cup will then tackle 522.43 competitive kilometres through the stunning desert terrain in nearby Wadi Rum on Friday and Saturday in a compact route of 749.30km.
Jordan Motorsport will also host a national event for 11 additional drivers and the exciting new Wadi Al Qamar Navigation Rally, where 27 amateur crews will tackle a non-competitive desert route for the first time to gain first-hand experience of off-road driving, navigation and road book-reading techniques.
The South Racing Can-Am Team’s Fernando Alvarez starts with a five-point cushion over Portuguese rival and fellow Can-Am driver Joao Ferreira in the Drivers’ Championship. Their respective co-drivers Xavier Panseri and Filipe Palmeiro are separated by a similar margin in the quest to become the champion co-driver.
Alvarez is all but assured of the SSV crown in the FIA World Baja Cup, but the top-seeded Czech driver Miroslav Zapletal is making a late bid to snatch the Ultimate class title from Ferreira, who has opted to enter a car in the SSV category for a second event in succession.
Nine crews are chasing FIA World Baja Cup points with the other 10 targeting the FIA Middle East Baja Cup. Quaddy Racing’s Ahmed Al Kuwari leads the series after two of four rounds by just seven points from Saudi Arabian rival Dania Akeel. The Qatari claimed maximum points in Saudi Arabia and Akeel redressed the balance a fortnight ago by winning the category in Qatar. Akeel has replaced her Toyota Hilux with a Can-Am Maverick on this occasion.
Saudi driver Majed Al Thunayyan leads the Stock section for series production cross-country vehicles and the nature of the class-orientated championship means that the Nissan Patrol driver remains in contention for the overall title. The Saudi duo of Maha Al Hamali and Hamad Al Harbi are also within striking distance.
Adding weight to the category is the recently-crowned FIA Middle East and Jordanian national champion Abdulaziz Al Kuwari. He drives one of three Taurus T3s entered by the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) alongside Khalifa Saleh Al Attiyah and Rashid Al Muhannadi.
This year’s event is supported by Zain Jordan, Jordan Kuwait Bank, Can-Am, Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC), Aqaba Cruise Terminal (part of AD Ports Group), Guarantee Travel Group, Hala and Bliss FM.
