Al Qasimi to fly the UAE flag at Dakar Rally

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Racing boss and driver Shaikh Khalid Bin Faisal Al Qasimi will be showcasing the UAE’s motorsport ambition before a global audience when he competes for the first time in one of the world’s most gruelling cross-country endurance races, the Dakar Rally 2017, which will criss-cross through three South American countries from January 2 to 14.

Shaikh Khalid will be behind the wheel of a Peugeot 2008 DKR as an official ‘Peugeot Sport’ driver. The team is run by PH Sport.

The Peugeot 2008 DKR emerged a winner on their 2016 debut at the Dakar, with Stephane Peterhansel behind the wheel and Jean-Paul Cottret as his co-driver. The 2008 DKR was successfully tested by Al Qasimi last September ahead of his Rally Morocco cross-country participation the following month in October.

Still new to the cross-country platform of off-road racing despite his extensive experience in the FIA World Rally Championship and the FIA Middle East Rally Championship, Khalid is excited about competing at the highest level of cross-country rallies.

“The idea of participating in the Dakar is not new. I’ve been thinking about it for a long time, it’s like a dream-come-true. I enjoyed my participation in past cross-country events like the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, Baja Aragon and Rally Morocco. Through these events, I’ve learned a lot and I would like to challenge my limits once again, but this time on the toughest desert rally in the world. I’m so excited and very proud to carry the UAE flag at the Dakar and looking forward to the new challenge.

“Driving as an official Peugeot Sport driver run by PH Sport is definitely a very important step forward in my career. The support I will get from Peugeot Sport and PH Sport during the event will make me feel more confident which will push me to set new limits for myself at the Dakar,” said Khalid.

Run over approximately 9,000km, the race — which is easily among the world’s most challenging endurance events — will pass through three South American countries — starting in Asuncion in Paraguay, with a rest day in La Paz in Bolivia, and the finale in Buenos Aires in Argentina.

The first six stages will run from January 2 to January 7 with a much-needed rest day on January 8 in La Paz, and a further six stages that will culminate in Buenos Aires.

With the addition of Paraguay, the Dakar will visit the 29th country in its 39-year-old history and the fifth on the South American continent. Then the rally will head for its longest stay so far in Bolivia and more specifically the capital city of La Paz.