RIYADH — The Saudi Hankook Car Racings' champion, Saeed Al-Mouri, has announced his participation in the 2013 Middle East Rally Championships (MERC) of Kuwait, Lebanon and Jordan. The announcement came at a press conference held at the “Pitstop” center in Jeddah recently. Al-Mouri, on the occasion, also unveiled his new rally car, the Mini Countryman RRC, which falls under the S2000 category. The management of Bin-Shihon Group, the exclusive agent of Hankook Tires in the Kingdom, headed by Marwan Bin Shihon, the Bin Shihon Vice Chief Executive Officer, and executives from Hankook Tires, were present at the announcement. The car is a 4-cylinder 1.6-liter turbo drive that produces around 270-horse power with a six-speed Xtrac gearbox. The car is a 4WD 1,200-kg racer and is considered the lightest car in its category within the FIA rally regulations. Al-Mouri is one of the best and most talented drivers in the Middle East, especially in the Kingdom. His achievements spread across different types of motor racing. He was crowned Red Bull Car Park Drift champion in 2011, and holds the Middle East and Saudi titles in Radical Racing as well as the Saudi Super Leggera title. During the ceremony, Al-Mouri said: “I would like to thank the Bin-Shihon Group and Hankook Tires for their continuous support to Saudi Motorsports and to me personally. “I am very optimistic about driving the new Mini Countryman, especially that it has proved itself in a very short period of time. I hope I can make my country and the team proud during the MERC participation,” he said. The Bin Shihon Group Vice CEO said: “We are very aware that the private sector has a crucial role in supporting motorsport in the Kingdom. From this perspective the company is extending its support to Saeed Al-Mouri, who achieved great results in motorsport, most noticeably in the last rally he took part in, in Kuwait. “The company is always trying to help motorsport in general and would like to wish Saeed and others all the best.”
