Motorcyclist Luca Manca -sponsored by Suez Cement Company-  ranked a very impressive second place at the 12° Pharaos International Cross Country Rally which ended on Saturday October 10th, back in Cairo. Manca also ranked first in the stage course with an advance of 46 seconds on preceding contestants.
 
Mr Roberto Callieri,  Managing Director of Suez Cement Company- one of the largest cement producers in Egypt- expressed his enthusiasm over Manca's achievement. He confirmed the company's  commitment to sponsor promising young athletic talents like Manca in order to promote sports and athletic competing worldwide.

With an industrial network of five production facilities in Suez, Kattameya, Tourah, Helwan and El Minya, Suez Cement produces approximately 12 million metric tons of clinker per year. Home to more than 3,000 employees, the company has an active safety and environmental policy, which is imperative for building a sustainable environment for employees and the communities in which it operates.
 
Second in rank, Manca was well prepared for the thrilling week-long endurance race across the western desert and made a great 3000km circular route which began under the gaze of the Sphinx in Giza ending up back to Cairo; with only 6’40 m following the French champion Cyril Depsres  winner of this year's rally.
 
Though only second time competing in the Rally, Manca succeeded in beating his own score as he ranked fourth in last year's race. He aspires to be the champ next year  and is looking forward to coming back to Egypt's sandy dunes and its amazing western desert.
 
Manca expressed his appreciation for Suez Cement sponsorship and expects a tougher competition next year since  many renowned contestants being attracted by this annual event. Created in 1981, the Pharaos Rally -considered to be second only to the famous Dakar Rally- is a seven-day, seven-stage event across the western desert.