Ford Focus Rabaa Rally in late April 2012
Inter-GCC challenge could net winners an all-new 2012 Ford Focus
By Shahzad Sheikh
This morning Ford Middle East announced the launch of the Ford Focus Rabaa Rally (Rabaa means ‘gang of friends’ in Khaleeji dialect).
The idea is that six country teams (led by celebrity captains from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE) will set off from Riyadh in late April and drive through the six countries in 10 days, complete a number of tasks and challenges along the way.
They’ll obviously all be driving identical Ford Focus cars, and their supporters and fans will be able to follow them through the event online through social media and via daily webisodes. Not only will teams be judged on their skills and performances rather than speed, they’ll also get extra support based on the support and enthusiasm of their fans.
The captains are celebrities from the entertainment and sports world in the GCC and include:
• Team Bahrain: Ismaeel Abdulatif, Football Striker and Winger, Al Muharraq Club
• Team Kuwait: Barakat Al Wegyan, TV presenter, Al Watan TV
• Team Oman: Nabil Al Busaidi, Arab Adventurer
• Team Qatar: Abdul Aziz Hasan, Vice President – Qatar Football Association
• Team Saudi Arabia: Khalid Khalifa, Comedian
• Team United Arab Emirates: Anas Bukhash, CEO and Managing Partner – Ahdaaf Sports Club; Photographer.
The team members will be selected from a two-round online process featuring voting from friends as well as demonstrations of their own skills. Registration is open from March 7-29, to GCC nationals with a valid driver’s license, on the Ford Middle East Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/FordMiddleEast .
Kicking off late April at the Reem International Circuit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the journey will bring the teams through all six GCC countries over the course of 10 days to compete for the most points in seven exciting challenges.
The final challenge will take place at the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in early May, after which, the team that successfully finished all seven challenges and earned the most points overall will win an all-new 2012 Ford Focus for each team member.
Fans participating online will also have the chance to watch daily episodes of the Focus Rabaa challenges, live streaming video updates and win exciting prizes as they support and cheer for their team. One lucky fan will have the chance to win an all-new 2012 Ford Focus as well.
DJ, music producer and radio presenter Dany Neville who will be the host of the rally, said: “We are now looking for 18 people to form six brave teams who think they can rise to the 4,000 km long challenge across the land we all call home. Registration will begin in just a few days on the Ford Middle East Facebook page, so keep checking for updates and information – do you think you have what it takes?”
“We are very excited to launch this incredible journey across the region,” said Paul Anderson, Marketing director of Ford Middle East. “The Focus Rabaa rally tour is a region-first activity that Ford is proud to bring to the GCC. We have had great feedback from audiences when we first launched similar challenges in other global markets and we are confident that this activity will equally engage a broad audience across the GCC.
“We are also thrilled to have the support of the team captains who have come on board this exciting project with us. We can’t wait to get this ball rolling! This will be a great opportunity to put the all-new Ford Focus to the test and showcase the range of new technologies that have been put into this amazing car. A unique experience, for a truly unique car,” he added.
