Jordan Rally start in ruins

Stunning ruins at the old Roman city of Jerash will see the start of the 2nd WRC event to be held in Jordan

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02 February 2010

Jordan is set to become one of the world’s most iconic sporting destinations after announcing it will launch its second FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) amid the ruins of the stunning former Roman city of Jerash on April 1.

Built over 2000 years ago and located just 48kms north of Amman, Jerash receives 500,000 tourists annually and is one of the largest and best preserved of the great Roman provincial cities. The rally will get underway from the spectacular Oval Plaza which will be open to the public free of charge.

‘Jordan has a wealth of tourist attractions the length and breadth of the country, with Jerash certainly amongst the pick of them,’ said HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, Chairman of Jordan Motorsport. ‘The world will see something incredible which will promote our country and the WRC to a massive global television audience.’

Jerash – once a home to tens of thousands of Roman soldiers and gentry - is spread over a huge area and contains two amphitheatres, an 800m-long colonnaded street as well as a hippodrome, which still hosts gladiator fights and chariot races to this day. The Oval Plaza has been chosen due to its iconic status, offering an idyllic backdrop to launch a titanic battle between the world’s very best drivers.

Following the ceremonial launch, set for 11am, the drivers will travel the short distance to start their competitive kilometres in the forests of Rumman before continuing south with stages through the Jordan Valley and finishing close to the Dead Sea headquarters. Action will continue for two days, with the finale expected at the Dead Sea on April 3rd.

The start venue has also been selected as a result of consultation between Jordan Motorsport and North One Sport - the WRC’s global promoter - and the Thursday start, instead of a Friday, takes advantage of the new flexibility offered to the championship’s host countries. Jordan will follow a Thursday-Saturday format to fit in with the Islamic weekend.

The 2010 Jordan Rally WRC consists of 346 competitive kilometres over the three days and as well as Jerash, competitors will take in other world-famous locations such as the Dead Sea, the Baptism site - where Jesus was baptised in the Jordan River - and Mount Nebo where Moses looked out over the Promised Land.

The thousands of visitors travelling in for the event will no doubt take advantage of traveling south to visit Petra - one of the Seven Wonders of the World -, Wadi Rum and Aqaba, the Red Sea resort city, making the Jordan Rally a truly unique sporting and leisure experience.

Don’t know about the rally, but we’re more interested in seeing the gladiator fights – are they still to the death? Will you be there? Let us know below.

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