The Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) has released further details about the back-to-back Hail Bajas, which will decide the outcome of the revised 2020 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas on Dec. 10-12 and 14-16. Working alongside Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, SAMF president and chairman of the organizing committee, an experienced team of officials led by Yousif Abdu and Rally Director Ziad Jamous have devised two challenging routes for the concluding events in the 2020 calendar that will also give many competitors the chance to compete against world champions. Baja Hail 1 will offer 592 competitive kilometers in a route of 890km through the An Nafud desert. Baja Hail 2 has a slightly shorter format and offers 479 kilometers of competition in a route of 780km. Both events will offer one selective sections per day over two days across terrain similar to that used by the Hail Rally that first entered the FIA cross-country rallying calendar in 2008 after running as a national club event for the first time in 2006. Manuel Vidal will work as Clerk of the Course for the first time with assistance from deputy Mauro Tavella, both individuals able to call upon their considerable FIA Baja experience through their senior organizational links with events in their native Spain and Italy respectively. The event is also sanctioned by the FIM represented by board member Larbi Al-Sebai, and open to motorcycle and quad riders. Entries for all disciplines close on Nov. 30. Rally headquarters will be situated within the Hail University Complex from Dec. 10 to 16. Full details of COVID-19 precautions and requirements for foreigners planning to attend the event are available on www.bajahail.com. Both Hail Bajas will run under the supervision of the Hail Regional Development Authority in co-operation with the General Authority for Tourism and National Heritage and the General Authority for Sport. — SG
