Abu Dhabi: Top Arab rally drivers will be vying for honours alongside their international counterparts in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge next month. The 24th edition of the event will take place in the western region of Al Garbia from April 3-10.
Only four Arab drivers have secured victory in the event’s 23-year history. Nasser Al Attiyah is among the pre-event favourites in the car division, driving one of three potent Minis entered by the X-Raid team.
After dominating this year’s Dakar Rally, the German-based team will be targeting a repeat performance in the UAE, with Vladimir Vasilyev aiming to become the second Russian winner of the event following Leonid Novitskiy’s 2010 victory, and Dutchman Erik Van Loon looking to build on his fourth place last year in the other Mini.
Organised by the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE), the national motor sport authority, the 2014 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge forms the third round of this year’s FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies for cars, following events in Russia and Italy.
“The entries are still coming in, but already we’re seeing a lot of quality in the cars, bikes and quads categories,” said ATCUAE President Mohammad Bin Sulayem, the FIA Vice-President.
“It means we can expect another very competitive Desert Challenge at all levels, and again there’s a great opportunity for our local competitors to test themselves against top drivers and riders from around the world and gain fantastic experience.”
The international force chasing points in the UAE will also include Colombia’s Antonio Marmolejo in a Toyota Hilux, Germany’s Amadeus Matzker in a Land Rover and Kazhakstan’s Andrey Cherednikov in another Toyota.
While overseas drivers with some of the sport’s biggest teams have won 19 of the 23 previous editions of the Desert Challenge, GCC countries have also produced some outstanding performers over the years.
Among the Arab drivers aiming to make an impact will be the UAE’s Mohammad Al Mansouri, Nabil Al Shamsi and Nooh Buhumaid in a trio of Nissans, Saudi Arabia’s Ahmed Al Shegawi, Yasir Seaidan and Ebrahim Muhana, as well as Qatar’s Mohammad Kamal in a Nissan Navarra.
