Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge powered by Nissan will mark its 25th anniversary in style on Saturday, when the event is given a rousing send-off at Yas Marina Circuit.
Abu Dhabi’s grand prix circuit will for the first time host the super-special spectator stage, giving motorsport enthusiasts a grandstand view of the assembly of cars, buggies, bikes and quads in action before they tackle the demanding desert.
Starting at 3pm on Saturday, the traditional curtain-raiser for the Desert Challenge will see a powerful line-up of drivers and riders from the Middle East and worldwide racing against the clock over a two-kilometre course specially designed to launch the event’s 25th edition.
Organisers say it promises to be a fascinating start for an event that continues on Sunday with the first of five long desert stages in the second round of this year’s FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies for cars and the opening round of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship for bikes.
Among the stars on show will be reigning FIA World Cup and Desert Challenge cars champion Vladimir Vasilyev from Russia, this year’s Dakar Rally winner Nasser Al Attiyah of Qatar, and the reigning FIM world champions — Spain’s Marc Coma, who is seeking an eighth bikes title in the UAE, and Poland’s Rafal Sonik, who defends his quads crown.
Taking place under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region, the 25th Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is organised by the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE).
“We are indebted to Shaikh Hamdan and to the Abu Dhabi government for their consistent support over the years to make this event known and admired around the world,” said ATCUAE President Mohammad Bin Sulayem, the rally founder.
“I’m proud to welcome such an impressive collection of competitors, support crews, officials and media to the UAE for the 25th edition of the Desert Challenge. This event means such a lot to me, to my team at the ATCUAE, our sponsors, and the many volunteers who give up their time each year and work so hard with us to make it happen.”
Tareq Al Ameri, Chief Executive Officer of Yas Marina Circuit, added: “The 25th anniversary of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is a milestone not only for the event, but also for UAE motorsport as a whole. We are delighted to be playing an increasingly active role in helping the ATCUAE ensure the rally continues to showcase Abu Dhabi as a world-class sporting destination.”
The Nissan Special Stage on the fourth leg, taking place on April 1, will be arguably the rally’s toughest section, stretching across some 258km of testing terrain.
The strength of the foreign challenge is highlighted by the entry of eight ALL4 Racing Minis by the German-based X-Raid team, including those driven by Vasilyev and last year’s runner-up Poland’s Adam Malysz.
With Al Attiyah aiming to repeat his 2008 Desert Challenge victory at the wheel of another Mini, the prospects of an Arab driver winning the event are strengthened by the presence of Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed Al Rajhi, who has genuine title credentials in a Toyota Hilux.
