Middle East Rally Championship

Events held across the region on varied terrain have been challenging FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) crews since the series began in 1984.

As well as traditional desert-based rallies, the MERC includes rounds on gravel and asphalt with high ambient and ground temperatures a constant hurdle to overcome.

The 2024 MERC schedule is made up of five events open to Rally2, Rally3, Rally4, Rally5 and new-for-2024 Rally5-Kit machinery, plus Group N4 and R4 cars. SSV (previously T4) Cross-Country cars are also permitted to take part on a non-points-scoring basis and in a separate SSV class.

After it was not possible for Nasser Al-Attiyah/Mathieu Baumel and Abdullah Al-Rawahi/Ata Al-Hmoud to be separated in the final points standings, all four became Middle East champions in 2023. This led to a change in the FIA Regional Rally Regulations for 2024 with new rules preventing dead heats in the future.

Al-Attiyah’s success means the Qatari driver has 19 MERC titles to his name ahead of the 2024 season, therefore extending his record as the most decorated MERC driver in history. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem was once the most successful MERC driver with 14 championships won.

Titles up for grabs

FIA Middle East Rally Championship for Drivers

FIA Middle East Rally Championship for Co-Drivers

FIA MERC2 Championship for Drivers

FIA MERC2 Championship for Co-Drivers

FIA MERC3 Championship for Drivers

FIA MERC3 Championship for Co-Drivers

FIA MERC4 Championship for Drivers

FIA MERC4 Championship for Co-Drivers

FIA Junior MERC Championship for Drivers

What’s new for 2024?

The Power Stage concept is coming to the MERC in 2024 with the series following on from the African, European and NACAM championships in introducing the format rolled out to great acclaim in the FIA World Rally Championship.
MERC tyre quantities have been reduced for 2024 in a move to lessen the cost of competing in the long-standing series. Competitors in RC2 and RGT cars are limited to a total of 16 tyres per event compared to the previous limit of 18. Drivers competing in RC3, RC4 and RC5 cars can use a maximum of 12 tyres rather than 14 as was the case previously. All tyres used for shakedown are not marked.
To be eligible for FIA MERC Junior, drivers must be under 26 on January 1, 2024, and entered in any Rally4, Rally 5 or Rally5-Kit car.

More information:

Click HERE for the Sporting Regulations and click HERE for the official MERC Facebook page

LINK TO SPORTING REGS: https://www.fia.com/regulation/category/117

LINK TO MERC FB PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/fiamerc