The Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE), the organiser of the the Dubai International Rally, announced the news on Tuesday.
ATCUAE is hoping to garner more visibility for the event, which has been a part of the Middle East Rally Championship for the past 37 years and is one of the oldest motorsport events in the UAE.
This move is expected to bring in more quality and quantity, in terms of competitors from all over the world.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the president of the ATCUAE and president of Emirates Motor Sport Federation (EMSF), expressed his gratitude to the Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
“We would like to thank His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for the great support and trust in our capability to organise Dubai International Rally on a global level. We would also like to thank Dubai Sport Council for their continuous collaboration and support,” Ben Sulayem said.
The ATCUAE president also thanked Jean Todt, the FIA chief, for the support received from motorsport’s governing body.
“Today it moves to a world level to be a part of international championships including rallies of Russia, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Portugal and Egypt. The new move will add a new milestone achievement to the UAE Motorsport record,” he said.
Ben Sulayem also expressed hope in developing the event in such a way that it would bring more appeal to Dubai and the UAE as a tourism and sport destination.
“Based on our long experience in organizing world level events over the last years, we aim to take DIR to the same level in terms of organization and participation. A new responsibility is now added on our shoulders, and the organization of the candidate event will be a new test for us,” Ben Sulayem concluded.
The Dubai International Rally will include categories that feature cars, motorbikes, quads and buggies. A team from the FIA is expected to observe the rally and decide whether it meets all the requisites to become part of the World Championships.
The Dubai International Rally was formed in 1984 and has been a part of every edition of the Middle East Rally Championship. ATCUAE president Bin Sulayem, is the most successful driver in the rally with 15 wins, from 1985 to 2002.
