Palestinians throng motor rally

Ramallah:

Palestinian drivers came from all corners of the West Bank to Ramallah on Friday to participate in the first-ever Palestinian motor rally. The air was filled with the smell of burnt rubber as hundreds of Palestinians lined the paved route on the outskirts of Ramallah. They cheered and whistled in delight as the BMWs, Peugeots and Subarus skidded around curves through rocky hills. Welcome relief The rally provided a welcome respite for from over four years of violence with Israel. The course was 2.5 km long and drivers raced it individually in a time trial. The winner of the race was Rami Jaber from Ramallah who drove a 2004 Audi. The course took him two minutes and 10 seconds to complete. Five drivers from distant parts of the West Bank were prevented by Israeli army checkpoints from reaching the race, organisers said. Others manoeuvred their shiny cars over dirt roads to avoid the checkpoints to get to the race. The cars varied from an old four-door Fiat to BMWs and Mercedes that looked brand new. (AP)