Storm causes new Jordan delays
The boat carrying the kit for the Jordan Rally has failed to dock at its expected time in Israel tonight because a storm has hit Haifa and the vessel is not allowed to come to port in the current conditions
The teams will reconvene at 11am local time tomorrow when it is hoped the boat will have docked and be well on its way to unloading the cargo of service park infrastructure. After a meeting tonight, the teams could make no plans regarding Thursday's opening day, with the boat situation still unresolved.
"This is unbelievable," said one team manager. "You could not make this up now. The boat is now sat one kilometre out of port, waiting for the sea to calm down so it can come in.
"At the moment, there are a lot of plans flying about regarding what could be done for Thursday, but nobody knows. Until the boat is in and the kit is in the service park, we can't really decide anything.
"We'll get together at 11am tomorrow and see where we're at then. About the only thing we can say is that shakedown [rescheduled for tomorrow night] is pretty much certain to be cancelled. As for day one, who knows? But with no boat, trucks or kit, it's not looking the best."
The boat was due to arrive on Sunday, but was slowed by an engine failure. The teams are now standing by in Haifa awaiting news.
The opening day of the Jordan Rally is shorter than usual due to a morning start ceremony in Jerash. The day comprises around half the distance of the opening day on other World Rally Championship rounds at 45 miles, but, crucially, the service park at the Dead Sea is used for Time Control 0B at 0700 Thursday morning.
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