Dubai: Early leaders David Mabbs, Sean Gaugain and Sebastian Husseini could come under pressure from a cluster of Emirati challengers when the second round of the inaugural UAE Desert Championship takes place this weekend.
Mabbs enters the second race on Friday looking to build on his initial advantage in the combined cars and buggies category, while Gaugain and Husseini aim to repeat their opening round successes in the bikes and quads divisions respectively.
After finishing second and fourth behind Mabbs in last month’s first round, Emirati drivers Ahmad Al Maqoodi and Mansoor Al Helei will both aim to step up their bids in the four-round national championship, which is also a feeder series for next year’s Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.
Organised by the Emirates Motor Sport Federation, with TAG Heuer Middle East as the official timekeeper and founding partner, the UAE Desert Championship is run with the support of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE, the national motor sport authority.
The second round will be a short track rally run near Al Lusayli. A marked desert route has been plotted with the help of Skydive Dubai, whose facility in nearby Margham boasts an accelerated freefall training school and heritage village.