RIYADH, January 17th, 2020 – The Bahrain X-raid team has claimed victory at the Middle East’s first Dakar Rally. The route of Dakar 2020, hosted by Saudi Arabia, traveled through vast expanses of the largest country in the Middle East. 550 drivers from 62 nations faced a total of 7,500 km, with the Bahrain X-raid team driver Carlos Sainz and co-driver Lucas Cruz completing the 12 stages in forty two hours and fifty nine seconds.The Bahrain-sponsored winning team also included champion driver Stephane Peterhansel and co-driver Paulo Fiúza who finished the rally in third position respectfully.
Bahrain has a long history of support for the motorsports industry, having hosted the region’s first ever Grand Prix in 2004. The 2020 edition of the rally marks another motorsport milestone for the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia becoming the first country in the region to play host to the challenge, gaining the right to hold it for the next five years.
Sven Quandt, Team X-raid owner, said: “We are delighted to partner with a country like Bahrain that can claim such longstanding support for the motorsports industry. The country’s participation in Team X-raid’s victory adds another dimension to its vision to be a nation that hosts, supports, organises, develops and participates in the success of the global sports movement. It gives me enormous pleasure to join the Kingdom in giving our talented team the warmest congratulations.”
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For more information, please contact:
Communications and Media Department
Economic Development Board
Phone: +973 397 989 19
E-mail: internationalmedia@bahrainedb.com
About Bahrain Economic Development Board
The Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) is an investment promotion agency with overall responsibility for attracting investment into the Kingdom and supporting initiatives that enhance the investment climate.
The EDB works with the government and both current and prospective investors, in order to ensure that Bahrain’s investment climate is attractive, to communicate the key strengths, and to identify where opportunities exist for further economic growth through investment.
The EDB focuses on several economic sectors that capitalise on Bahrain’s competitive advantages and provide significant investment opportunities. These sectors include financial services, manufacturing, ICT, tourism, logistics and transport.
For more information on the Bahrain EDB visit www.bahrainedb.com; for information about Bahrain visit www.bahrain.com.
