Due to recent violence and political unrest in Syria, the logistics of the World Rally Championship's moved to jordan will arive on a roll on roll off vessel from Venice to Haifa
The Federation Internationale de L’Automobile(FIA) and the World Rally Championship teams confirmed last week that the logistics of the World Rally Championship's move from Portugal to the next round in Jordan had to be changed at the last minute due to the political unrest in Syria.
The trucks had originally been booked on a roll on roll off vessel from Venice to the port of Tartous in Syria. Those plans were changed last week, when the vessel was found to take the kit from Trieste to Haifa in Israel instead.
In a statement issued by the parties it was noted that the WRC – Ford, Citroen, Michelin and North One Sport - will now go in through the Israeli port of Haifa before heading southeast to cross the border into Jordan. The vessel has departed from Trieste and is due in Haifa on Monday early AM.
The logistics were re-routed after the recent violence and political unrest in Syria. Human rights groups have estimated more than 60 protesters have been killed in Syria in recent weeks.
A spokesman for the organizers said that "Haifa and Israel was the next option and we've made that work. The final schedule for the boat has yet to be sorted, but it's likely to leave on April 6 and arrive on April 10. From there it will be a short journey to the Dead Sea. It's been a little bit hectic, but we've got there."
The Jordan Rally starts on Wednesday, April 13 and finishes on Saturday, April 16, running as it did last year, a day earlier to accommodate the Arabic weekend which is Thursday-Friday and not Saturday-Sunday.
