Epic Jordan River stage returns to Jordan Rally

AMMAN — With a little over two weeks until Jordan hosts one of its most popular sporting and social events of the year, organisers of the FIA Jordan Rally have unveiled a tough test for the region’s leading drivers, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee Media Service.

As one of the world’s leading rallies, the Jordan Rally has a reputation for throwing in a surprise or two each year and 2017 will see the event start and finish with a specially created spectator stage and the return of one of the sport’s most iconic stages – the Jordan River.

At 33km long, the Jordan River stage is 11km shorter than when it was first introduced as a part of the country’s World Rally Championship event in 2008, but it will be run twice through the lowest point on earth on Day Two (May 6) of this year’s testing event.

“It is such a beautiful stage and one of the longest you will find in rallying anywhere these days,” said clerk of the course, George Khoury. “The overall route has a familiar look to it with stages in and around the Dead Sea and Jordan Valley areas but it will prove just as challenging for those taking part.”

The spectator stages to launch the event on Thursday, May 4, and bring it to a close on May 6, will be held on a 2.1km track being specially created right on the banks of the Dead Sea.

In between those super special stages, fans will have the opportunity to watch the action through 10 timed stages on Day One and six on Day Two.

Overall, the rally will consist of 241 competitive kilometres with road sections linking the stages adding an extra 383km, making the Jordan Rally one of the most compact and centralised in the sport.

Entries are continuing to come in with the final list expected to be published by Jordan Motor Sport on April 19.