Abu dhabi: The 48th Lebanon International Rally, the fourth round of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC), concluded on Sunday with Lebanese driver Roger Feghali and co-driver Joseph Matar taking the title. On the sidelines of the event, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun received FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem at Baabda Palace, where they discussed the development of motorsport and Lebanon's role in the sport across the Middle East.
According to Emirates News Agency, Ben Sulayem, who attended at the invitation of the Automobile et Touring Club du Liban (ATCL), emphasized that the rally remains an important part of the region's motorsport history. He also highlighted the FIA's plans for the long-term development of the Middle East Rally Championship. Ben Sulayem himself is a decorated driver, having won the Lebanon Rally four times during a career where he claimed the Middle East Rally Championship title 14 times.
In July, the FIA announced a long-term commercial rights agreement covering the World Rally Championship and European Rally Championship. This initiative is aimed at attracting investment and supporting the future development of the sport.