This newsletter is the first update of our pre-event informations. Please note that all informations are unofficial . First of all, competitors and teams must come in to ABU DHABI with an open mind for a desert-rally, a special type of rallying not comparable with any European event.

CLIMATE
During the summmer (July/August) the temperatures of more than 45oC and at 65 to 75% humidity but you shall expect for the ABU DHABI CLASSIC in February a pleasant weather with max. Temperature between 25 to 30oC and 40% humidity and with gentle breeze permanently.

DRIVING IN THE DESERT
Prevention is better than cure. Make sure your vehicle and equipment is thoroughly checked over before starting out. Check spare wheel ! Water is essential. Dehydration is a real danger, so take as much fresh water as you can with you (at least 1,5 ltr per person per day). Never use just one vehicle. If one gets stuck, a second could pull it out or organize help. In any case : the mobile telephone net is working everywhere ! Do not try to climb up dunes by car, you will find unpleasant surprises.

RALLY ROUTE
The course is similar to last year with approx 180 kms SS. Route is set on gravel only. The gravel is of hard surface, sometimes covered with few sand. Several passages find hard pressed sand with dips and ditches as well as waves but no really holes. There are absolutely no big stones like Cyprus or Greece but the stages are fast and your concentration is forced to maximum. If you strictly follow the road book you will not have any problems to get stuck. Attached find some photos of the SS.

RECCE
It is forbidden to practice or have tests for set up etc. on or near the Special Stages. Any infringement against this regulation is immediately subject to be penalised by the stewards. Because of the easy recce situation there will be one day for recce only. Furthermor during the rally you will have the opportunity to drive the first round of all 3 stages non competively, ie. as liaison/road section, just for controlling the changes of the road-surface, navigation, surface and hazards; wind may have blown new sand on to the road since the pace notes have been written, but this will not really change the conditions. In order to make your RECCE SAFE, please go out only in car-groups, never lonesome. There will take place a drivers briefing before recce. Participation is obligatory

TYRES & SET UP
You will need gravel tyres only, we suggest hard types. The organizers will allow 16 tyres per competing car only, which means that 12 tyres per team will be marked at the technical scrutineering.
Keep an eye to your preparation of suspension, which should be quite high and must bear a lot of shocks. Please do not forget to pretend the engine compartment against dust and use good filters. You will need a sump guard.

SAFETY
Route is observed by experienced marshals and judges of fact, in contact with COC permanently.
“Medicopter” is stand by at the hospital which is located in immediate neighbourhood of the stages. As well during the recce as during the rally itself your car will be equipped with tracksystem-data-card which will support the organizers to locate your exact position and will show your speed and route at recce and rally.

SPECIAL ELECTRONICAL DEVICES
Please note that NO electronic devices are allowed during the rally except speedometers like Coralba etc. Do not use GPS-or radio systems !

PETROL SUPPLY
You will find 98 octane unleaded petrol at commercial fuel stations. During the rally competitors shall have a common refuelling area at a petrol station. This refuelling station is part of the official route and in immediate neighbourhood of the permanent service area.
Fuel price : 4,5 litres (1 gallon) = AED 6,75 €1 = AED 4,8

SERVICE
There will be a permanent service area. The maximum driving distance from a SS-start and finish will be 10km. It is up to everyone´s own decision, to organize the serviceplace which is on tarmac surface. There is little shadow, only bushes, so please plan to take a tent with you. You will find a restaurant, a shop and facilities you certainly need. It is strictly forbidden to have service outside this service area. Any infringement against this regulation is immediately subject to be penalised by the stewards. Cars who have got stuck will be pulled out by an assistance car of the organizers following the last competition car.

SPECIAL DEVICES
All electronic devices are allowed during the rally (regularity will find special instructions). If you have a GPS system, yes use it, but it is not absolute necessary.

CAR SHIPPING
Please wait for exact dates, we are still working on best suitable possibilities for competitors. Loading of the cars at Harbour La Spezia, for scandinavian and german competitors: Harbour Hamburg. The cars have to be in Abu Dhabi in the 1st week in February and will be back in Europe by end of February , 1st week in March at latest.

Loading / Unloading in Europe will be carried out by organizers counting on help of the teams.
Loading / Unloading in ABU DHABI will be carried out by the teams supervised by the organizers.
Maximum petrol in the cars is 5 ltrs and no extra tons !!! Disconnect the battery on both poles !!!

Teams should organize for each car :

The containers will be identified by the organizers. Stow your spares in boxes easily to be identified.

HOTEL BOOKING
Please wait, we are working on best suitable possibilities for competitors and organizers.

FLIGHT ARRANGEMENTS
Please wait, we are working on best suitable possibilities for competitors and organizers.

PROGRAMM “for leisure and relax”
In all booked hotels, even in the overnight-halt hotel, you will find pools, restaurants, fitness facilities etc. Please do not forget your swimming suits.

CUSTOMS
We are right now checking, whether for our participants a carnet is really necessary. Maybe we find an exception. Please wait for information. Otherwise: You will need a “Carnet de Passage” for car and spares and on the first page you have to fill in the extras you really want to export temporarily from your home country. For instance : Number of complete wheels, toolkit, nr of shock absorbers, Coralba, Halda etc. Make the list short and easy to explain. You must apply for this Carnet at your local Automobile Club. The Carnet is valid for 12 month ! Please do not loose time to organize ! When a car leaves or enters a country by sea or air it is necessary to use customs clearing agents to process the necessary paperwork. Agents will be required in the harbours of departure and arrival. We are making arrangements with agents in these places to process all our cars in bulk thereby minimising the costs. These costs are at the responsibility of the individual competitor. As soon as we have finalised the costings we will advise the details . The costs (of approx Euro 300.-) can be paid before the start of the event.

PERSONAL DOCUMENTS
Please read the Visa-regulations on our web site under register “competitors rally & regularity”. Your passport must be valid until 6 month after foreseen departure from the UAE. Do not forget that you need a valid driving licence and a new international competition licence valid for 2008. Apply just in good time. For foreign competitors/entrants, drivers and co-drivers, authorisation for participation must be given by the national ASN in accordance with Article 70 of the ISC. Sorry, this will be done by the organizers for Italian, German and Austrian competitors only. We need 4 passportfotos of driver and co-driver each, 2 fotos in high quality of your rally car. List of team-mates and persons in accompany: Full names and date of birth

MONEY EXCHANGE
In the UAE Dollars, Euros and Pounds are wellknown. All major creditcards are welcome. Start changing your home currency after arriving in Abu Dhabi. After leaving the passportcontrol look out for Abu Dhabi National Bank (green letters) : this is the best way for Dirham (AED) and not “Travelex” (blue and red letters).

MEDICAL SUGGESTIONS
Carry out with your cars good supply of fluid without added salt. If you need and use any medicine permanently, please check your luggage if this medicine is aboard. Our partners are The Emirates Driving Company The ABU DHABI Tourism Authority The Automobile Club of The United Arab Emirates.

THIRD PARTY INSURANCE
It is a condition of entry that all competitors must have third party insurance cover for the cars . The organizers will arrange such an insurance at competitors costs, which is approx Euro 100.-

RENT CAR
There are many companies offering rent cars. We suggest www.billiger-mietwagen.de because they offer a complete agreement without any extras as CDW etc.

WORLD TIME CHANGE
Please note there is a difference of 4 hours between GMT / 2 hours Vienna and Regional Emirates Time (winter).

SOME PHOTOS OF THE SS: