Abu Dhabi: The 25th Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge powered by Nissan came to a climax with a glittering gala dinner and prize giving ceremony at Yas Marina Circuit late on Thursday.
Mohammad Bin Sulayem, President of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE), the rally organisers, and Tarek Al Ameri, CEO of Yas Marina Circuit, presented trophies to the winners in all categories at the conclusion of the event, which was held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region.
The winners included Russia’s Vladimir Vasilyev, who captured the cars title for the second year in a row, and Spain’s Marco Coma, who secured the Desert Challenge bikes crown for the eighth time.
Two trophies went to UAE competitors, with Ahmad Al Fahim taking winning the T3 buggies category and Mansour Al Helei capturing the T2 production class cars title. Qatar’s Mohammad Abu Eisa won the quads crown for the second time in three years.
The Desert Challenge was 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.
Vasilyev took the cars title despite finishing almost 20 minutes adrift of Nasser Al Attiyah in the final standings, with the Qatari disqualified after the FIA’s post-rally inspection found an irregularity with his suspension travel.
The 2008 Desert Challenge winner reportedly intends to appeal against the decision.
The Qatari was declared the champion on Thursday after the 234km Abu Dhabi Aviation Special Stage 5 had to be cancelled because of poor visibility, which was down to less than 100 metres in places and meant that air support for the rally was not possible.
But, in the early evening, the ATCUAE announced that Al Attiyah had been excluded following post-event scrutineering by the FIA.
