Dubai: Dakar Rally champion Nasser Al Attiyah produced a convincing victory in the inaugural Dubai International Baja, powered by AW Rostamani and Nissan, as Dubai-based South African rider Mark Ackerman produced a brilliant surge on the last leg to clinch the bikes’ crown.
Qatar’s reigning FIA World Cup champion Al Attiyah, partnered by French co-driver Mathieu Baumel in a Toyota Hilux, extended his overnight lead to win by 14 mins 57 secs from the UAE’s Shaikh Khalid Al Qasimi and Khalid Al Kendi who finished a clear second in their Abu Dhabi Racing Peugeot 2008 DKR.
Former Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge quads champion Mohammad Abu Essa with Frenchman Xavier Panseri were another 8 mins 10 secs further away in third in their Mini All4 Racing in the second round of this year’s FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies for cars and buggies.
Finishing seventh overall, Ukrainian driver Vadym Prytuliak driving solo in a Polaris RZR edged out the UAE’s Ahmad Al Maqoodi and Obaid Al Kitbi by just nine seconds to capture the buggies title.
With the event also forming the opening round of the FIM Bajas World Cup Ackerman, riding a Husqvarna, wiped out a 1 min 28 secs overnight held by Benjamin Melot on a KTM to win the stage and take the bikes title by 29 seconds from the Frenchman.
With the UAE’s new World Cup event producing more spectacular action as the Nissan Stage 3 unfolded among the dramatic dunes and plains of the Al Qudra desert, top Emirati rider Mohammad Al Baloushi climbed one place to finish third.
Young Emirati Mansour Al Helei, partnered by experienced WRC co-driver Chris Patterson in an Abu Dhabi Racing Toyota Land Cruiser, was an impressive winner of the T2 production class, taking it by 3 mins 34 secs from UAE-based Emil Khneisser in a Nissan Patrol.
Qatar’s reigning FIA World Cup T2 champion Adel Hussain Abdulla of Qatar was third in the class in another Nissan Patrol.
Al Attiyah, who had emphasised before the start that the Dubai International Baja signposted an exciting new era for rallying in the Middle East, will immediately set his sights on defending his title in the Desert Challenge next month. A relative newcomer to cross country rallying by comparison, Al Qasimi will also be aiming to make a big impact in the event.
As the Dubai Baja reached the official finish at the Bab Al Shams Arena he said: “Today it was very windy and the track had deep ruts after yesterday’s two stages. As a result, we had to look to drive through different lines and take some risks on new sandy tracks. We also had to keep in mind not to lose time, especially on the small back-to-back dunes.
“I pushed hard on the straight sections and we had a moment on one of the dunes when we were about to roll after the car hit the nose. In general, it was a good event and we are happy with the podium. This event has given us more experience in desert rallies.
Topping the bikes standings was comfortably the biggest achievement of his riding career for Ackerman, who had a lot of work to do to catch Melot after an opening leg which brought the early retirement of Dubai-based Dakar Rally champion Sam Sunderland. Italian Alessandro Ruoso, Kuwaiti Mohammad Jaffar and Dubai-based British rider Dave McBride rounded off the top six.
Provisional results
(Cars) 1. Nasser Al Attiyah/Mathieu Baumel (QAT/FRA) Toyota Hilux 3:55.46; 2. Shaikh Khalid Al Qasimi/Khalid Al Kendi (UAE/UAE) Peugeot 2008 DKR 4:10.43; 3. Mohammad Abu Essa/Xavier Panseri (QAT/FRA) Mini All4 Racing 4:18.53; 4. Ronan Chabot/Gilles Pillot (FRA/FRA) Toyota Hilux 4:26.57; 5. Miroslav Zapletal/Marek Sykora (CZE /SLO) Hummer H3 EVO V11 4:29.09; 6. Aron Domzala/Szymon Gospodarczyk (POL/POL) Toyota Hilux 4:47.23; 7. Vadym Prytuliak (UKR) Polaris RZR 1000 T3.1 4:49.06; 8. Ahmad Al Maqoodi/Al Kitbi Obaid (UAE/UAE) Polaris RZR 1000 4:49:15; 9. Khalid Al Feraihi/Obaid Ali Hassan (KSA/UAE) Nissan Petrol 5:03:36; 10. Yahya Al Helei/Nasser Al Kuwari (UAE/QAT) Nissan Pick Up 5:11:01.
(Bikes) 1. Mark Ackerman (RSA) Husqvarna 450 FX 4:15.50; 2. Benjamin Melot (FRA) KTM 500 EXC 5 4:16.19; 3. Mohammad Al Baloushi (UAE) KTM 450 SXF 1 4:23.19; 4. Alessandro Ruoso (ITA) KTM 450 SXF 1 4:31.03; 5. Mohammad Jaffar (KUW) KTM 450 Rally 4:35.52; 6. David McBride (GBR) KTM 450 Rally 1 4:36:59; 7. Tim Trenker (DEU) Husqvarna 450 FX 1 4:46.36; 8. Shannon O’Connor (RSA) KTM 450 SXF 1 4:49.48; 9. Fahad Al Musallam (KUW) Yamaha 700 Raptor 4:52.53; 10. Khalid Khamis Ozair (UAE) Husqvarna 450 FX 1 4:52:56.
