Q: What is a rally?

A: A rally is a car race in the desert anywhere from 500 km up to 12,000 km. It usually involves motorbikes, cars and trucks. It is a sport like any other where you need a team, training, competition, safety regulations, etc...

Q: What is the team made of?

A: The team is formed of the team manager (hossam mostafa in our case) for management of logistics, spare parts and maintenance crews plus in our specific case parts configuration research which is basically researching the best configuration for the mechanical systems in the car. The head mechanic (Said) for the car building itself and its maintenance before, during and after each rally. The co-pilot for navigation during rally and mechanical assistance on track and the pilot who generally, but not necessarily, is the team owner and financier. He does a little bit of everything besides driving of course. Without a good and co-operative team you stand no chance.

Q: Do I need to have my own car?

A: The team needs a car to race with which can be either built locally to FIA(Federation Internationale d'Automobile) regulations which emphasize passenger safety, or bought or rented from abroad already compliant.

Q: Are there any fitness requirements?

A: You have to be fit because even though you are sitting in your seat most of the time, your body is exerting an incredible amount of effort and energy let alone if you get stcuk in the sand in 50 degrees weather. I lost over 12 kilos this last rally but don't worry i got half of them back already.

Q: Are there any age limitations?

A: There are no age requirements but you have to have a license at least. You can start in your 20's and end in your 70's. What is important is the amount of experience you have and that you can acquire by training, competing and some more training.

Q: Do I need to have navigational skills?

A: Navigation is of course essential and good skills are a must. This is after all a cross-country desert race for a few thousand kilometers with no roads or tracks hence the importance of the copilot. However, with modern equipment, you can no longer be completely lost. you can lose the right way and you can lose time but you are monitored at all times via satellite from the race head-quarters.

Q: How do I become a rally driver?

A: We are currently setting up a rally school. We will announce its full details once finalised.

Q: How much does it cost?

A: Again, the range is very wide. You can use your own car with
little modifications on it or you can custom-build a racing vehicle
with state of the art equipment. The basic cost is always going to be
time and effort. A non-modified car with little money spent on it can
always finish a rally. This is after all an endurance race before being
about speed.

Q: Desert races often route virgin areas, natural protectorates or archeological
sites. What are the safeguards against damaging such delicate ecosystems and
heritage? 

A: In the old days (1980's), there was little awareness but now this is strictly enforced and monitored by the ministry of environment and the parks systems. Rallies are no longer allowed to enter the natural parks of egypt except on the designated tracks and not while racing. Most of the actual racing happens in the great sand sea amidst the mighty dunes of the egyptian sahara. A few days after a rally has passed, the wind has erased any signs that it ever existed.
 

Q: I was wondering if you'd be interested in a talk at a University or a school??

A: It is a pleasure and an honor.