{"id":4889,"date":"2025-04-03T15:27:48","date_gmt":"2025-04-03T15:27:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.canevarally.com\/gravel\/?p=4889"},"modified":"2025-04-03T15:27:49","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T15:27:49","slug":"saudi-arabia-rally-2025-a-new-desert-challenge-in-the-fia-merc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.canevarally.com\/gravel\/saudi-arabia-rally-2025-a-new-desert-challenge-in-the-fia-merc\/","title":{"rendered":"Saudi Arabia Rally 2025: A New Desert Challenge in the FIA MERC"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Jeddah Hosts a Landmark Round of the Middle East Rally Championship on Technical Desert Terrain<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Saudi Arabia is gearing up to host a landmark event in Middle Eastern motorsport: the <strong>Saudi Arabia Rally<\/strong>, taking place <strong>May 1\u20133, 2025<\/strong>, in <strong>Jeddah<\/strong>. As the <strong>third round of the 2025 FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC)<\/strong>, this rally marks the Kingdom\u2019s increasing presence on the global motorsport map, following its success in hosting Formula 1 and the Dakar Rally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Setting: Jeddah, Where Desert Meets the Sea<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The rally\u2019s base is strategically placed at the <strong>Jeddah Corniche Circuit<\/strong>, well known for the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The event will use:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>F1 garages and paddock as the rally\u2019s service park.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Race Control building for rally HQ and timing operations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This synergy with world-class motorsport infrastructure promises a smooth and professional experience for teams and fans alike. <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rally-saudiarabia.com\/t-en\/\">Explore the Official Rally Site<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Stages of Saudi International Rally MERC: Rocks, Sand, and Speed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The route features <strong>12 special stages<\/strong> set in rugged terrain north of Jeddah, offering an epic blend of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Rocky volcanic ground<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mountain trails<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fast sandy valley roads<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Challenging dunes and gravel sectors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These stages are <strong>technically demanding<\/strong>, combining <strong>tight corners, elevation changes<\/strong>, and <strong>high-speed sections<\/strong>, making this one of the most diverse rallies in the MERC calendar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rally Schedule &#8211; Saudi International Rally MERC<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Thursday, May 1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Morning: Shakedown test stage for final setup and media footage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Evening: Grand ceremonial start at the scenic Jeddah Corniche with the Red Sea as backdrop.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Friday, May 2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Six special stages: 3 in the morning, repeated in the afternoon.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Total competitive distance: 96 km.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mid-day service break at the Jeddah paddock.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Saturday, May 3<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Another loop of six special stages: 3 morning + 3 afternoon.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Total competitive distance: 96 km.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>17:00: Podium ceremony and prize-giving at Jeddah Corniche.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rally-saudiarabia.com\/t-en\/\">View Full Event Details<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Follow the Saudi Rally Live<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For fans following from home or on-site, here\u2019s how to stay connected:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Live Timing &amp; Results<\/strong>: Will be published during the rally. Bookmark the official site\u2019s <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rally-saudiarabia.com\/t-en\/\">Live Timing Page<\/a> or follow <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/fia.com\">MERC Timing<\/a> for real-time splits and classifications.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>News and Media<\/strong>: Rally reports, updates, and daily highlights will be available via <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rally-saudiarabia.com\/t-en\/\">rally-saudiarabia.com<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Social Media<\/strong>: Updates, photos, and behind-the-scenes content are expected on Instagram and X (Twitter). Use hashtags like <strong>#SaudiRally2025<\/strong> and <strong>#FIA_MERC<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spectator Info &amp; Travel Tips<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Planning to watch live? Here\u2019s what you need to know:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Access to Stages<\/strong>: Most stages are within a 1-hour drive from central Jeddah. Spectator zones will be marked and accessible, offering great visibility and atmosphere.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Accommodation Book early<\/strong>: Jeddah is a popular destination. International hotels, local guesthouses, and beach resorts are available. Consider areas close to the Corniche for easy rally HQ access.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Getting There<\/strong>: Fly into <strong>King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED)<\/strong>, located just 30 minutes from the rally base.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Weather<\/strong>: Expect hot and dry conditions \u2013 temperatures can reach 35\u00b0C. Bring sunblock, hats, water, and light clothing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Safety &amp; Local Etiquette<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Always stay in designated spectator areas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Respect local customs, especially regarding dress code and public behavior.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Follow marshals&#8217; instructions at all times.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Saudi International Rally MERC Matters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With world-class logistics, varied desert terrain, and a central role in the 2025 MERC, the Saudi Arabia Rally is not just another rally \u2013 it\u2019s a statement of intent. A challenge worthy of the best regional drivers, it also offers fans an unforgettable blend of motorsport, landscape, and Arabian hospitality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Useful Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rally-saudiarabia.com\/t-en\/\">Official Website<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rally-saudiarabia.com\/t-en\/\">Live Timing (available during rally)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/fiamerc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FIA Middle East Rally Championship Instagram page<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jeddah Hosts a Landmark Round of the Middle East Rally Championship on Technical Desert Terrain Saudi Arabia is gearing up to host a landmark event in Middle Eastern motorsport: the Saudi Arabia Rally, taking place May 1\u20133, 2025, in Jeddah. As the third round of the 2025 FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC), this rally&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4893,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"both","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":301,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4889","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-13","description-off"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.canevarally.com\/gravel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4889","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.canevarally.com\/gravel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.canevarally.com\/gravel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.canevarally.com\/gravel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.canevarally.com\/gravel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4889"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.canevarally.com\/gravel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4889\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4895,"href":"https:\/\/www.canevarally.com\/gravel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4889\/revisions\/4895"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.canevarally.com\/gravel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4893"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.canevarally.com\/gravel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4889"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.canevarally.com\/gravel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4889"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.canevarally.com\/gravel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4889"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}