Entries open for three-day FIA and FIM Jordan Baja

AMMAN — Jordan Motorsport is proud to announce that final preparations are now under way for the Jordan Baja, round three of the 2020 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas and a brand new counting round for the 2020 FIM Bajas World Cup. The event takes place across Jordan’s stunning Wadi Rum on April 16-18, according to the Jordan Motorsport Media Service.

The draft supplementary regulations (subject to approval) for both the FIA and FIM events were issued on Monday and mark the second successive season that the event has counted for the prestigious FIA series and a first for motorcycles and quads running in the FIM category.

Jordan Motorsport CEO Zaid Balqez also confirmed that competitors will tackle a super special stage of 2.85km in Aqaba on April 16 before the pre-event press conference and ceremonial start are held later in the evening in the city.

The competitive action in the deserts will take place over two days, with competitors tackling a 245km Salhiyah selective section on the morning of April 17 and a second shorter Bait Ali section of 130km in the afternoon, split by remote servicing at Camp Ali and surrounded by some of the most beautiful terrain on the planet. 

On April 18 the action is centred around the world famous Wadi Rum. Competitors will cross picturesque martian-like sandy terrain and weave their way through the majestic rocky outcrops over a 212km timed section before the finish in Aqaba. 

The area is known the world over for the numerous Hollywood blockbuster movies that have been filmed there and is often referred to in world motor sport circles as the “Baja on Mars”.

Both events will be fought out over 589.85 competitive kilometres in a route of 829.26km laid on by FIA Clerk of the Course George Khoury, his deputy Omar Zarour and their team at Jordan Motorsport. Fareez Nabulsi will work alongside Zarour and the team as senior officials on the FIM event. 

FIA entries are now open to cars complying with FIA T1, T2, T3 and the new T4 regulations, while non-complaint machines may be permitted to enter a National category running at the rear of the field.

Rally headquarters will be located at the Mövenpick Hotel in Aqaba for a third year. 

Entries close at reduced rates for the FIA event on March 15 with a final deadline of March 29. FIM competitors have until March 5 to qualify for reduced rate entries.

This year’s FIA Baja series will be fought out over eight rounds in Russia, Dubai, Jordan, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Poland and Portugal. Round one was held in St. Petersburg earlier this month and victory fell to the local driver Vladimir Vasilyev.

The revised FIM Baja calendar consists of six rounds in Portugal, Dubai, Jordan, Spain, Hungary and Portugal, with round one taking place around the town of Serta on March 27-29.