The 26th edition of the 2010 Pharaons Rally is scheduled from 2 - 10 October, reports Ahmed Morsy. In a press conference held in Pyramisa Hotel in Dokki on Sunday, officials said the rally will be held under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and under the supervision of the Egyptian Tourist Authority, the Egyptian Automobile and Touring Club, the Federation Internationale de Automobile (FIA), and La Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), together with the Egyptian Federation of Motor Sports. The nine-day rally will take place in six stages, covering 2,750 kilometres and ending for the first time in Al-Alamein where the awards ceremony will be held instead of the backyard of the Pyramids as is done every year. The rally most of which encompasses the Western Desert is due to have from 600 to 700 participants from Europe, Japan, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia as well as Egypt. "The Western Desert is one of the most important deserts in the world since it includes most of the natural phenomena in the world's deserts," Mahmoud El-Kaissouni, advisor to the minister of tourism for environmental affairs, said during the press conference. The Egyptian rally is considered the second most important rally race worldwide and is the last phase of the World Rally Championship. "The track was carefully chosen to avoid national parks and all archaeological and natural sites in the desert," Mahmoud Noureddin, representative of the Pharaons Rally organising company, emphasised. "For the first time there are 15 Egyptian teams who will participate in the rally as well as teams from Saudi Arabia and the UAE. It was agreed with the organisers to give the Egyptian and other Arab teams a 50 per cent discount on the participating fees," Noureddin stated. He added that the course was meant to diversify by changing the final destination to Al-Alamein. The international rally is organised by Italy's JVD Company, which has expertise organising such events. It will be covered and broadcast worldwide by international sports channels including Eurosports and SkyTV. The Egyptian Automobile and Touring Club supervises the rally in Egypt as a representative of FIA, FIM and in cooperation with the Egyptian Federation of Motor Sports and under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism represented by the Egyptian Tourist Authority. Khaset Expeditions manages the logistical organisation at the local level.
