Ten Saudi Drivers Ready for Dakar Rally 2024 Saudi Arabia Participation

Competitors have completed their final preparations for the 46th edition of the ultimate challenge in the world of motorsports and rally racing. Photo: Dakar website
Competitors have completed their final preparations for the 46th edition of the ultimate challenge in the world of motorsports and rally racing. Photo: Dakar website
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Ten Saudi Drivers Ready for Dakar Rally 2024 Saudi Arabia Participation

Competitors have completed their final preparations for the 46th edition of the ultimate challenge in the world of motorsports and rally racing. Photo: Dakar website
Competitors have completed their final preparations for the 46th edition of the ultimate challenge in the world of motorsports and rally racing. Photo: Dakar website

The fifth edition of the Dakar Rally 2024 Saudi Arabia is set to kick off on January 5 with 10 drivers from the Kingdom participating in the competition.

Competitors have completed their final preparations for the 46th edition of the ultimate challenge in the world of motorsports and rally racing, which the Kingdom has been hosting for the fifth consecutive year.

Participants will set off from the city of AlUla on January 5, with the competitions concluding in Yanbu on January 19. The rally will feature elite drivers and riders from around the world who have confirmed their preparations to take part in the world's most challenging rally.

This year, drivers will kick off their rally with a preliminary stage from the starting camp in AlUla before embarking on a route that traverses several cities in the Kingdom.

The route includes Al-Hanakiyah, Al-Dawadmi, Al-Salamiya, Al-Hofuf, Shubaytah, Riyadh, Ha’il, and Yanbu, covering a total distance exceeding 7,891 km, including 4,827 km of timed special stages.

This year, 10 Saudi drivers are participating in the competitions, including Yazeed Al-Rajhi in the "T1" category, and Ibrahim Al-Muhana in the "Stock" category.

Saleh Al-Saif, Dania Akeel, and Mashael Al-Obaidan are participating in the "T3" category. Yasir bin Seaidan and Maha Al-Hamali are competing in the "T4" category.

Tariq Al-Rammah is competing in the "T5" category, while Abdulhaleem Al-Mogheera is participating in the "Motorcycles" category, and Hani Al-Noumesi is in the "Quads" category.



Spain Extends Contract of National Team Coach Luis de la Fuente until 2028

Spain’s head coach Luis de la Fuente monitors a training session in Donaueschingen, Germany, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, file)
Spain’s head coach Luis de la Fuente monitors a training session in Donaueschingen, Germany, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, file)
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Spain Extends Contract of National Team Coach Luis de la Fuente until 2028

Spain’s head coach Luis de la Fuente monitors a training session in Donaueschingen, Germany, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, file)
Spain’s head coach Luis de la Fuente monitors a training session in Donaueschingen, Germany, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, file)

Spain's national team coach Luis de la Fuente has extended his contract until 2028 after leading the team to last year's European Championship title.

The Spanish soccer federation said Monday that it is “renewing its confidence” in the 63-year-old De la Fuente, who started coaching the nation's youth squads in 2013 and took over the senior team after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to replace Luis Enrique, The AP reported.

De la Fuente is the first Spain coach to win the European Championship at three different levels after also leading the country to the Under-19 and Under-21 titles.

The new contract will keep the former player in charge of La Roja during the 2026 World Cup and Euro 2028.