by Mahmoud Fouly
CAIRO, June 9 (Xinhua) -- At an artificial snow park in Giza province near the Egyptian capital Cairo, 15 four-wheel drive vehicles engaged in a snow drifting challenge for the first time in Egypt, amid cheers of tens of enthusiastic motorsport lovers who wore winter outfits in a subzero environment despite the hot weather outside.
Ski Egypt, the organizer of the snow rally at its venue, said that the event seeks to promote snow rallies, winter sports and relevant entertainment activities in Egypt and the region.
Mahmoud Youssef, a regional director of Dubai-based Majid Al Futtaim that owns and manages Ski Egypt and the entire Mall of Egypt where it is located, said that the snow rally was the first to be held in Egypt, Africa, and the Middle East region.
"We are holding the first snow rally at an indoor temperature of -4°C as a unique and new event for the racers and spectators. It is a true test for the rally racers who drive 4x4 cars mostly in the desert and are not familiar with driving them in ice and snow," Youssef told Xinhua inside the freezing venue.
The sloping, bumpy course had several flags identifying the path that cars had to drift through, and the three racers with the best finishing times won the first three places.
Sherif Wagih, a co-pilot at Alpha Racing Team and a 2022 national rally champion, won first place in the new snow rally, pointing out that driving in snow was a completely different and challenging experience for him.
His teammate at Alpha, Amir Youssef, came in second in the snow drift competition.
"The experience is completely different from the desert rally, because the course here is slippery and snowy, but with preparation, practice, and training together, we were able to make this achievement and win the first two places," the Egyptian told Xinhua.
Wagih added that he hoped that snow rallies would be held in Egypt at regional and international levels.
The race attracted many spectators of all ages, who found it unique and interesting to watch cars drifting in snow in a country where it doesn't snow. Some of them blew trumpets, while others were cheering during the race.
"I am here today because of my passion for motorsports and rallies. I love car races in general, so this snow rally is a great opportunity to get into the racing community in Egypt," said Menna Belal, a young woman, hoping it will be the beginning of similar other snow events.
"Holding this unique event for the first time in Egypt is a big surge for motorsport and for sport in general in the country," she added.
As for Motaz Saleh, a businessman, he brought his wife and two children to enjoy watching the event in an unusually snowy atmosphere, describing the first snow rally in Egypt as "a success."
"We came because this is the first event of its kind in Africa to see 4x4 vehicles racing inside a snow venue. At the same time, we are motorsport fans and we're very proud to have something like this snow rally in Egypt," the spectator told.
"Egyptians, by nature, love to try new things. The weather here is hot, so people find it interesting to experience this snowy atmosphere," the man added, noting that one of his two kids will join Ski Egypt classes next year to learn skiing. ■
