Dakar Rally
Aramcon to return to Dakar Rally for third time
Safety, speed, and a dedication to the sport drive Tariq S. Al-Rammah.
Aramcon Tariq S. Al-Rammah will be participating in the Dakar Rally again.
This year’s the event, the 44th edition, will be hosted in the Kingdom for a third time, and this rally will include new routes and plenty of challenges for its participants. Scheduled Jan. 2-14, 2022, the event is expected to attract more than 550 participants from around the world to enjoy the thrill of rally sports and Saudi Arabia’s beautiful scenery.
And while the experience isn’t new for Al-Rammah, it is as exciting as it ever has been for veteran Dakar Rally participant.
“I found last year’s experience to be outstanding,” said Al-Rammah. The event’s organizers, the track layout, the spectacular routes, in addition to the adherence of high safety standards. It exceeded all of my expectations.”
Al-Rammah also noticed local interest in the event as well as an interest from those visiting the Kingdom for the first time to participate in Dakar.
It’s nice to see what Saudi Arabia and its people have achieved. I noticed great interest from rally participants, who gave positive feedback regarding the rally’s organization and safety standards during the entire event.
— Tariq S. Al-Rammah
“It was also a great experience to introduce and share the country’s local culture with my fellow drivers during the event,” he added.
And while he’s proud of again competing, he knows it won’t be easy. The Dakar Rally has stringent rules and regulations, with organizers inspecting participant vehicles thoroughly before the race. Those who fail to meet the regulation standards are immediately disqualified.
How he got there — again
Al-Rammah and his team from the Security Forces Officers Sport Club recently participated in the World Rally Championship in Hail on Dec. 7-11, completing all four selective sections in Saudi Arabia’s premier motor sporting event.
The Aramcon, who participated in local and Middle East rally championships, commented, “I am extremely happy to complete in this rally, safely winning first place in Class T5 (Truck Class).”
Al-Rammah added, “I have also noticed the improvements the event organizers make year-after-year; the event is getting better and better with the support from Hail Rally organizers.
The veteran driver noted, however, that the Hail competition was improved this year all around. “I was fortunate to reach the podium, driving to the finish line safely. I used a different strategy this year and achieved my goal with practice and preparation. taking my time and pacing myself to ensure the victory.”
Lasting impact
This year, the Dakar Rally’s theme will focus on the environment, helping support ambitious initiatives to promote and develop climate-change solutions and low-emissions vehicles in the future.
Al-Rammah says he plans to use a “Greening Vehicles for the Green Race” as part of promoting Saudi Arabia’s Green Initiative.
Safety first
In 2022, Dakar will be part of Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, where safety is the first priority.
Al-Rammah says this makes the venue ideal to promote the importance of both safety and environmental protection, and an opportunity to represent Aramco in the best possible way.
“Dakar is more about being a safety event than an extreme sport,” he noted. “And the rally will showcase Saudi Arabia’s talented pool of competitive drivers, showing the entire world what we can achieve in the spirit of completion. I’m looking very forward to this year’s event.”