By Ahmed Elumamai.
Tripoli, 14 November 2013:
Final preparations are now underway for the start of a 1,000 kilometre rally through the country’s Hamada Desert, setting off from Zintan on Saturday morning.
“We are now making arrangements with the Zintan military medical centre for a helicopter to monitor the safety and well-being of all the participants,” one of the organisers, from Buraq Air, Amir AbuSin told the Libya Herald.
There are 38 Libyan participants confirmed for the five-day race. Although there were no foreign participants in this, the second national Hamada rally, AbuSin said, there were plans to transform next year’s rally into a bigger, international event.
“The organisers will make a trip to Dubai, to raise the profile of the rally and try and make it into international event,” he added. “We’re really excited about this rally because it is a chance to develop vehicle sports in the country.”
The rally is being sponsored by Oil Libya, Libyana and Buraq Air. Prizes include return flights to Turkey and Morocco.