Saudi Arabia, for the third consecutive year, will host the Dakar Saudi Arabia Rally for 2022, which is considered the biggest edition in terms of participation in the most prestigious, famous and challenging rally in motorsports through attracting drivers from 70 nationalities. Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, President of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and Chairman of the Saudi Motorsport Company, stressed that preparations are undergoing for launching the Dakar Rally according to the schedule to guarantee an edition with a success that exceeds those of the past two years. He noted that the volume of participation this year reflects the big interest in the rally and is a proof of trust in the capabilities of Saudi Arabia and Saudis’ determination to host and organize the biggest international event of the kind and to continue the successful journey with Dakar Rally to instill the status of the Kingdom as a new home for the motorsports. The 2022 Dakar Saudi Arabia Rally is the biggest in terms of the number of participants, where drivers of France are top participants, followed by Spain, the Netherlands, Italy and Czech Republic in all the categories of the rally. Racers will start in Hail on January 1 heading toward Riyadh to enjoy a one-day rest before moving ahead in their challenge to the terrains of Saudi Arabia and its sand dunes that are full with challenges before they end the race in Jeddah on January 14. This year’s rally will include two ring courses that constitute a main role in granting team members an opportunity to rest, focus and conduct maintenance, in addition to having a marathon stage that requires strategic planning with high mental and physical strength and competitiveness among racers to guarantee they stay in the race through preserving top ranks without wasting much time. — SPA