A group of business-minded women from around the world gathered in Lebanon over the weekend to take part in Lebanon’s first women-only vintage car rally. Rallye des Graces brought 30 women from across the globe to participate in the two-day event, aimed at increasing tourism and establishing strong business connections on local and international levels while driving vintage cars across Lebanon.
Chahrazad Rizk, organizer and president of the rally, explained her vision to The Daily Star: “I want to bring forward business women to integrate and invest in Lebanon, but also to show them our country.”
Rallye des Graces started Saturday from the Automobile and Touring Club of Lebanon in Kaslik, Kesrouan. On the first leg of the rally, participants drove north to Jbeil, then to Batroun and Upper Metn, arriving at the Pine Land resort in Hammana. However, Lebanon’s problems with road infrastructure caused a few headaches.
“We had to clear the traffic, you can imagine the struggle,” Rizk said. “We worked closely with the government of each sector to clear the streets.”
Sunday saw cars leave toward Kefraya in Bekaa and then back to Beirut. The hot weather took its toll on the drivers, with only a handful making it back to the finish in Zaitunay Bay in the given time limit.
Imad Lahoud, deputy vice president of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) waited at the finish line in Zaitunay Bay, with every car that rolled in welcomed with music and their waiting friends and family.
“[It’s] not a sporting event. It’s only about getting to the checkpoints within a certain time, otherwise you get penalized,” Lahoud explained.
For many drivers it was their first visit to Lebanon, and many expressed an interest in bringing their products and services to the country.
“This was my first visit to Lebanon, and it was fantastic,” one driver said as she pulled up into Zaitunay Bay’s finish line with her husband co-piloting and sporting a large grin. “I’m part of a logistics company that transports seafood ... I can already imagine transporting seafood from Italy to here.”
“We have drivers from the United States, Azerbaijan, United Kingdom, Greece, all over” Lahoud said.
“It’s true, we want to promote tourism in Lebanon.
“But we also need them as our ambassadors outside of Lebanon.”
“The main objectives behind the rally focused around economy and tourism in Lebanon,” Rizk said.
“The rally is also a method of integration,” she added.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
