QMMF to Partake in the Opening of Dakar International Rally

Doha, December 31 (QNA) - Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) announced it has agreed to attend the opening of the 42nd Dakar International Rally, which will be held for the first time in the Middle East, in Saudi Arabia during the period from the 5 to 17 January 2020. QFFM decision came after receiving an invitation from its Saudi counterpart for attending the opening and the closing ceremonies of the rally, as well as handing the prizes on the last day of competitions in Riyadh. A delegation comprising QMMF President Abdulrahman Al Mannai and Secretary-General Abdulrazzaq Al Kuwari will attend the opening ceremony of the Dakar Rally, to be held in Jeddah. About 330 contestants representing 60 nationalities in 4 different categories: cars, motorcycles, desert quadrants and trucks will compete in the 9000 kilometer Dakar Rally. Qatari champion Nasser Al Attiyah, who is who defending the title he won at the beginning of 2019, tops the list of contestants in the new version of the rally. The Dakar Rally will be held for the first time on the Asian continent, after 40 years in Europe, Africa and South America. Saudi Arabia will be the 30th country to host the Rally since its official launch in 1978. (QNA)